Colorado’s Gun Control Measures Linked to Rising Firearm Murders

A recent analysis indicates that Colorado experienced a significant rise in firearm-related murders after implementing extensive gun control measures starting in 2013.

This shift followed just a couple of months after the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. Reports from that time highlighted Colorado Democrats’ strong push against the Second Amendment, which included restrictions on “large capacity” magazines, the establishment of universal background checks, and barring victims of gun violence from taking legal action against gun manufacturers.

In the years since, Colorado’s Democratic leadership has continued to advocate for stricter gun laws. Most recently, Governor Jared Polis endorsed a semi-automatic firearm ban, marking it as one of the strictest regulations in the state’s history, as reported by Colorado Sun.

The new legislation, signed on April 10, 2025, has added significant limitations on the sale of certain semi-automatic firearms, including specific models of rifles and shotguns. It also prohibits gas-operated semi-automatic handguns with removable ammunition magazines.

According to data, gun murders in Colorado have reportedly surged from 86 in 2014 to 237 in 2023. This suggests that, despite stringent restrictions, the laws have not successfully curtailed violence, leaving some to question their effectiveness.

Moreover, many argue that the ongoing push for gun control measures has not correlated with a decrease in gun-related violent crime over the past decade.