Colorado’s House Bill 1062, aimed at increasing penalties for gun theft, narrowly passes the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 6-5 and now moves to the Appropriations Committee. Sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Rep. Ryan Armagost, the bill proposes that all firearm thefts be classified as a Class 6 felony, regardless of the gun’s value, responding to alarming statistics that show gun theft rates have tripled over the last decade.
The bill is estimated to incur nearly $400,000 in costs for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and close to $1 million for the following year, reflecting its potential impact on law enforcement resources. Testimonies from various stakeholders, including law enforcement officials who report hundreds of firearms stolen each month, suggest that higher penalties could enhance public safety and discourage illegal gun trafficking. Nevertheless, some committee members express skepticism about whether increased penalties will effectively reduce crime rates.
Read full story at www.coloradopolitics.com
