Colorado’s gun rights restrictions keep criminals empowered

... The recent flurry of gun control measures has made Colorado one of the most restrictive states for firearm ownership in America. Senate Bill 25-003 for example, imposes a three-stage process on every Coloradan who may need to purchase a semiautomatic pistol for self-defense. There is no cap on fees and there is no time frame within which an application must be approved or denied. This will create substantial time and cost barriers for anyone who needs protect themself and their families in case of an emergency...

Many assume that dealing with violent crime should be a job for law enforcement. This is a mistake. Usually when the police are called, by the time they can get there the assault is either already over or well underway. More importantly, law enforcement is under no obligation to protect you...

The bottom line is this: if you believe an innocent person has the right to defend themself against a violent criminal, then that person must have the ability to deliver an immediate response that stops the attacker right there, on the spot. For many people, especially women, this means using a gun...

Laws don’t have the ability to stop a determined criminal; they can only punish him after he commits a crime. And no one understands this better than violent offenders, especially mass shooters.

This is why Colorado’s approach to public safety isn’t only naïve, but dangerous. It’s inspiring legislation that ultimately restricts the ability of law-abiding people to defend themselves and renders them more vulnerable to violent criminals...

Colorado is at a moment where the governor and many in the state legislature... are increasingly putting their constituents at risk, and it’s time Coloradans give them a reality check.