Colorado’s New Semiautomatic Gun Law Already Faces Local Defiance
Montezuma County Sheriff Steven Nowlin announced on August 4, 2026, that his office will not issue eligibility cards required under Colorado’s Senate Bill 25-3, which took effect August 1. Residents who want to legally purchase AR- or AK-style rifles, semiautomatic pistols, or other covered firearms must now travel to a neighboring county and pay out-of-county fees.
The new law requires buyers of many semiautomatic firearms that accept detachable magazines to obtain an eligibility card from a county sheriff. To get one, applicants must pass a background check, complete a safety course (12 hours for most buyers, 4 hours for those with hunter education credentials), and pass a written exam. The card is valid for five years.
Nowlin, a Republican, cited two reasons for refusing to implement the requirement. He said the law provides no funding to sheriffs, leaving his office unable to hire additional staff. He also cited a constitutional objection to tying hunter education requirements to firearm purchases, which he called unprecedented in state or federal law.
“Each of us have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Colorado, and perform the duties of the Office of Sheriff in Colorado by protecting those rights for all citizens in Montezuma County.”
Sheriff Steven Nowlin, Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, August 4, 2026
Nowlin’s refusal does not create a legal carve-out for county residents. The law still applies in Montezuma County, and gun stores must still verify that buyers have completed all requirements before completing a sale. The practical effect is a cost burden on residents who want to comply.
Montezuma County residents can travel east to La Plata County, which is issuing the cards. La Plata charges in-county residents $63, a figure that includes the mandatory $52 Colorado Parks and Wildlife fee. Out-of-county applicants pay $150, more than double that rate.
Sheriffs across Colorado have broad discretion over how they implement state mandates, and the legislature did not include dedicated funding for eligibility card administration in Senate Bill 25-3. That gap is now a lever for sheriffs who oppose the law. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation reported a sharp rise in background checks in the weeks before the law took effect, suggesting significant buyer activity ahead of the deadline.
What You Can Do Now
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Call the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners at (970) 565-3728 and ask them to direct the sheriff’s office to seek emergency funding or intergovernmental agreements so residents are not burdened with out-of-county travel costs. The board controls county budget allocations.
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Contact your Colorado state legislators through the Colorado General Assembly’s member directory and ask them to introduce a fiscal note or supplemental appropriation to fund sheriff implementing Senate Bill 25-3. Name the $150 out-of-county fee as an equity barrier.
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Contact Colorado Governor Jared Polis’s office at (303) 866-2471 and ask him to direct the Department of Public Safety to issue guidance on what happens when a county sheriff refuses to implement a state gun safety law, including possible alternative card-issuance mechanisms.
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If you live in Montezuma County and plan to purchase a covered firearm, confirm La Plata County’s current card-issuing status and fee schedule directly at the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office before traveling, as county policies can change.
Sources
Colorado Newsline: Montezuma County Sheriff Will Not Issue Eligibility Cards Under New Gun Law Colorado Newsline: Colorado Prepares Overhaul of Semiautomatic Gun Sales Colorado General Assembly: Senate Bill 25-3 Full Text and Legislative History Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Mandatory Safety Course Requirements Under SB25-3 Colorado Bureau of Investigation: Firearm Background Check Data and Reporting