Right off the bat at Monday’s regular meeting, Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed and approved a resolution “strongly opposing” Senate Bill 25-003, which Governor Jared Polis signed into law on April 10. Gun enthusiasts and sheriffs of at least 13 Colorado counties are up in arms, so to speak, about the new law, which aims to restrict the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms. The law also requires safety training for those who want to purchase them, a permit from the local sheriff and classifies devices that increase the rate of fire, like bumpstocks, as dangerous weapons.
The bill, which goes into effect August 2026, is complicated — but many, including the BOCC, believe it to be an affront to 2nd Amendment rights. “I want the county to oppose Senate Bill 3, which is probably the most restrictive gun law in the United States,” said Commissioner Perry Will, who added that the law could put “mom and pop” gun shops out of business.
The bill, co-sponsored by state Senator Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting, requires 12 hours of training to purchase a semi-automatic firearm, four hours if a person already has a hunting license. “There’s no training requirements to exercise your 1st Amendment right,” Will exclaimed. “And I don’t think there should be for your 2nd Amendment [right].” He added that he’s all in favor of firearm safety training but not like this.
Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky and Commissioner Mike Samson were of one mind, adamant about the potential job losses on the state level, costs to counties for additional hires, more responsibilities for county sheriffs and, finally, the governor’s action.
“This is another example of the governor and the state legislature just ram-rodding bad legislation down our throats,” opined Samson, adding that neither the governor nor the state legislature cares about the Western Slope. He also admonished local state representative Elizabeth Velasco (D-HD57) for casting a “yes” vote. “To me, this is another example of very poor representation that Garfield County has on a state representative level,” he growled. “It’s terrible. It’s terrible.”
Jankovsky called the bill an unfunded mandate and had this to say to Governor Polis: “If you’re trying to run for president of the United States, the public and the citizens of the United States will take this into account,” he said. “They don’t need a Little Napoleon to be a dictator as the president of the United States.” He added that the bill is just another example of how Polis does not listen to citizens. “He is arrogant, thinks he knows best,” said Jankovsky. “I hate to be so critical of the governor because he’s also vindictive.”
The rest of the meeting lasted about 45 minutes and included consent agenda approval, an intergovernmental agreement with the Parachute Urban Renewal Association and a contract with Rifle-based Greyco Customs for upfitting vehicles for the county sheriff.
Carrie Couey, county treasurer and public trustee, presented the public trustee report for the first quarter of 2025. Net revenue is $5,698.16 in the red.
You can find BOCC meeting minutes in video and PDF form, dating all the way back to 1998 at www.garfieldcountyco.gov/board-commissioners/meetings