Colorado background checks soared ahead of new gun restrictions

(The Center Square) – Background checks in July surged to record-breaking levels before a new law came into effect to increase regulations to buy certain semiautomatic guns.

In the lead-up to the law’s implementation, the month of July saw nearly 60,000 background checks performed, almost triple the figure from the year prior according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations. Colorado does not track firearms sales, but background checks are required for firearm sales.

Opponents of the state law called it unconstitutional, while supporters argued it would keep some of the most dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands. In the lead-up to its implementation over the weekend, gun owners rushed to purchase firearms before the new restrictions went into place.

The law, SB25-003, was passed back in 2025 but did not go into effect until Aug. 1. The law concerns semiautomatic firearms, specifically those t...