Colorado GOP Calls on DOJ to Stop ‘Unconstitutional’ New Gun Laws

A broad coalition of Colorado Republicans has taken a bold step to combat what they see as an all-out assault on the Second Amendment. As reported by Sara Wilson of Colorado Newsline, state lawmakers, members of Congress, county sheriffs, and even the Colorado State Shooting Association have formally requested that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi review nearly 20 gun control laws passed in Colorado. These leaders argue that the state’s gun policies are no longer just regulatory – they’re repressive, targeting law-abiding citizens rather than criminals.

The group’s letter, sent in April, asks Bondi to activate the Department of Justice’s new Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force, a body created earlier this year under Bondi’s leadership. Republicans hope the task force will launch a federal investigation into what they call Colorado’s “anti-Second Amendment agenda” and consider legal remedies, including lawsuits.

A First Test for the Second Amendment Task Force

Derek Reeves, host of the gun rights YouTube channel Connecticut Gun Bench, called the letter an “unprecedented move” and believes it could be the first real test of whether the DOJ’s new task force is serious or merely symbolic. Reeves has covered the creation of the task force since its inception, viewing it as a potential counterweight to aggressive state-level restrictions. In his April video, Reeves stated plainly: “This puts the ball in Bondi’s court.”

Indeed, how Bondi responds will determine the credibility of this newly established initiative. As of now, the task force, which includes representatives from the DOJ, FBI, ATF, and other federal agencies, has yet to take formal action.

The Law That Sparked the Showdown

At the center of this conflict is Senate Bill 25-3, which was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis in early April and will go into effect in August 2026. The law imposes strict training, vetting, and background check requirements for anyone wishing to purchase most semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines. It also includes a ban on certain “rapid-fire trigger devices,” such as bump stocks.

Supporters like Governor Polis and State Senator Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the Aurora theater shooting, say the law is meant to save lives. But critics say it crosses a constitutional line. As Reeves noted in his video, the bill is “potentially the most restrictive gun control measure in the country,” setting a dangerous precedent that could be copied elsewhere.

Republicans Say Rights Are Being Eroded

The letter to Bondi, co-signed by 22 Republican legislators and 14 county sheriffs, argues that Colorado’s gun laws “fail to meet constitutional benchmarks” as established by the Supreme Court in cases like District of Columbia v. Heller and Bruen v. New York State Rifle & Pistol Association. Citing the most recent laws passed over the last three years, the letter warns that the state is “engaged in a systemic and unrelenting campaign” to undermine gun rights.

As Wilson reported in Colorado Newsline, the lawmakers also emphasize how the restrictions disproportionately impact rural residents, people in poverty, and individuals who rely on firearms for self-defense, not just hobbyists or collectors.

Sheriffs Take a Stand

One notable feature of this fight is the involvement of county sheriffs, particularly Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams, who has publicly vowed to resist enforcement of laws he considers unconstitutional. As Reeves explained, the participation of sheriffs is crucial because they are elected directly by the people, unlike police chiefs, who are appointed by political leaders.

This makes sheriffs uniquely positioned to stand up against perceived overreach. “Sheriffs tend to side with the people, not with the power structures,” Reeves said, drawing a sharp contrast with urban law enforcement leadership that may be more aligned with progressive city governments.

Governor Polis and Attorney General Weiser Defend the Law

Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, stood by the legislation, calling it “commonsense.” In his signing statement, he said the bill “will make Colorado’s communities safer” and help reduce accidental shootings and mass violence.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser echoed that sentiment in a statement to Colorado Newsline, framing the law as a response to devastating mass shootings in Aurora, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. He rejected the idea that these laws were unconstitutional, asserting instead that they are necessary to address what he labeled a public health crisis.

Constitutional Grounds for Challenge

But critics argue that SB-3, and others like it, effectively turn a right into a privilege. Reeves pointed out that requiring a state-issued “eligibility card,” 12-hour safety training, and a second background check amounts to prior restraint – a legal term meaning the government restricts a right before it can be exercised. That, he says, contradicts recent Supreme Court decisions that set a high bar for any limitations on the right to bear arms.

As one Republican lawmaker put it in the letter: “If we allow the government to redefine rights as privileges, we place our freedoms at the mercy of those in power.” That’s not just philosophical – it’s legal ammunition for what could soon be a high-profile court battle.

Political Imbalance in Colorado

One of the biggest hurdles gun rights advocates face in Colorado is the Democratic Party’s dominance of the state government. Democrats hold the governor’s mansion, the state House, and the state Senate, making it nearly impossible for Republicans to pass meaningful counter-legislation.

As Reeves noted in his video, this trifecta gives Democrats the ability to enact sweeping policies without bipartisan input. That leaves conservatives with only two viable options: litigation or federal intervention. The letter to Bondi is the beginning of the latter strategy.

Why This Fight Matters Nationally

Although this may seem like a state-level dispute, it has national implications. Colorado joins California, Oregon, and Washington in pushing increasingly restrictive gun laws under the banner of public safety. If the DOJ’s task force intervenes, it could set a precedent for how the federal government will approach state-level gun control moving forward.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman turned independent voice, has also raised alarms in recent months about the government labeling gun owners as “potential domestic terrorists.” That rhetoric, combined with restrictive laws, has only deepened fears among gun rights advocates that the real target is not criminals – it’s everyday citizens.

What Comes Next?

So far, there’s been no formal reply from Pam Bondi’s office. As Reeves said, this will be the first major test of whether the Second Amendment Task Force has any real teeth. If Bondi ignores the letter, he warned, it may signal that the task force was just political theater. But if she responds with legal action or investigation, it could open the floodgates for challenges in other blue states.

“This is going to be the test,” Reeves said. “Colorado is a good place to start.”

The Growing Divide on Gun Rights

What’s unfolding in Colorado is a reflection of the growing cultural and political divide over firearms in America. One side sees guns as the root of violence and believes more regulation is the only solution. The other sees guns as essential to freedom and fears the government more than criminals.

And while the conversation in Colorado is just beginning, it’s clear that the rest of the country is watching closely. Whether Pam Bondi acts or not, this case is likely to shape the future of the Second Amendment in the 2020s and beyond.