Attorney Tom Grieve, a former Wisconsin state prosecutor and now a leading gun rights attorney, doesn’t mince words. In his recent YouTube video, he opens with a grim expression and an even grimmer warning: Colorado lawmakers are pushing what he calls one of the most aggressive anti-Second Amendment bills in recent history. This isn’t just a local issue, Grieve warns – it’s a blueprint for what may come to every state, including yours.
Colorado’s New Legislation: A Multi-Front Assault
Grieve explains that the current version of the bill, modified from an earlier version that threatened outright bans on common firearms, still carries massive implications. While the magazine ban component is being reserved for a follow-up video, Grieve focuses on how this bill introduces a sweeping permit requirement system, educational mandates, potential registries, and felony-level punishments for non-compliance. “They are conditioning your rights,” he says flatly, “turning them into privileges.”
Permits, Classes, and Fingerprinting: The New Barriers to Entry
Under the proposed legislation, purchasing a firearm in Colorado would no longer be a straightforward process. Grieve outlines the steps: first, a would-be buyer must obtain a permit from their local sheriff. This includes submitting to a background check and fingerprinting. Once that hurdle is cleared, the buyer must then complete a state-certified hunter education or firearm safety course. Not just once, but repeatedly – within five years of any new firearm purchase. And these aren’t free: courses cost time, money, and require scheduling, all potential roadblocks.
A “Permission Slip” for Your Constitutional Rights
Grieve draws an alarming comparison: what if other constitutional rights were treated this way? Imagine having to get a permission slip and attend a government-approved class before voting, speaking at a rally, or attending church. “It’s ridiculous,” Grieve states. “But when it comes to guns, suddenly it’s acceptable.” His frustration is evident as he underscores how this bill reframes constitutional rights as privileges that must be earned. He calls out the absurdity and dangers of normalizing these incremental steps.
Transfer Bans That Outlast Death
The bill doesn’t just affect firearm acquisition – it restricts transfers as well. Grieve emphasizes that under the proposed rules, you can no longer simply pass your guns on to your heirs. Upon your death, the firearms must be surrendered to an out-of-state buyer or an FFL (federally licensed firearms dealer). “Death is no escape,” Grieve remarks dryly. “This is just like taxes.” Even the act of gifting a family heirloom becomes a regulated transaction under this proposal.
Misdemeanor Today, Felony Tomorrow
One of the bill’s most controversial elements is its punishment structure. If you sell a gun without complying with these new mandates, your first offense is a class 2 misdemeanor. But a second offense? That’s a class 6 felony. “You’ll be grouped in with people who commit assault against children, the elderly, or the disabled,” Grieve warns. And the penalties aren’t just symbolic – violators face up to 18 months in prison and thousands in fines. The gravity of this cannot be overstated. Gun owners become felons not for violence, but for paperwork mistakes or procedural non-compliance.
A Gun Owner Registry by Another Name
Though the bill avoids using the term “registry,” Grieve sees right through the language. The state will maintain a database of all those who have completed certified firearms training courses via the Division of Parks and Wildlife. This, he says, is de facto registration. “If hackers, or worse, the government, want to find out who owns guns, all they need to do is look up the training records,” he warns. This concern extends beyond privacy; it becomes a question of personal safety. Publishing lists of gun owners has already proven disastrous in other states.
The Slippery Slope Toward Confiscation
Grieve’s stance is clear: registration always precedes confiscation. The bill may not require you to register the make, model, and serial number of every gun you own, yet, but it creates a digital breadcrumb trail for bureaucrats and bad actors alike. He believes the training record system will be exploited in time, and the step from registration to gun seizure is historically well-documented. “First you register, then they restrict, and eventually, they confiscate,” he warns.
Dangerous Definitions: The “Rapid Fire Device” Trap
In one of the more technical yet ominous changes, the bill modifies how “dangerous weapons” are defined. The term “machine gun conversion device” has been swapped for the much vaguer “rapid fire device.” As Grieve explains, this could lump together illegal Glock switches with legal bump stocks – or even competition triggers that increase shooting speed. The language, he says, is intentionally nebulous and leaves the door wide open for broad interpretation and over-criminalization. One day your competition trigger is legal, the next it’s contraband.
From Colorado to the Country
Grieve is quick to note that this kind of legislation doesn’t stay put. “What starts in New York moves to California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Illinois… and then to Colorado, Wisconsin, and Minnesota,” he warns. Even deep-red states aren’t immune. Federal agencies and national legal precedents will eventually extend these policies, bit by bit, across the country. “If you think this won’t reach you, you’re wrong,” he says. These laws are drafted in copy-paste fashion and tweaked for state legislatures one after another.
The Political Theater Behind the Bill
Adding insult to injury, Grieve calls out the apparent lack of seriousness from some lawmakers pushing this bill. In a telling clip, Colorado State Rep. Amy Pascal fumbles through the legislation mid-hearing, struggling to navigate sections of the very bill she’s supporting. “This is the kind of statesmanship we’re dealing with,” Grieve remarks with sarcasm. “And yet they’re writing laws that can land people in prison for owning a legally purchased firearm.” He points to this as symptomatic of how detached lawmakers have become from the real-world consequences of their actions.
A Call to Wake Up
Grieve ends his video with a sobering quote from philosopher John Locke: “No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.” It’s a stark reminder of the founding principles behind the Bill of Rights – and a rebuke of the idea that government can dictate how, when, and if a citizen may exercise a constitutional freedom. “Try telling that to a politician,” Grieve says. It’s clear he views this bill not as a fluke, but part of a national trend – a slow-motion dismantling of the Second Amendment under the guise of safety and procedure.
For additional info, check out Tom Grieve’s video here.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.