On March 6, House Democrats introduced the first of four bills that would attack the right to bear arms. In HB-1219, “Waiting Period To Deliver A Firearm”, bill sponsors Rep. Meg Froelich (D) and Judy Amabile (D) establish “a waiting period before a firearms seller may deliver a firearm to a purchaser.” The language of the bill continues, “The waiting period is the later in time of 3 days after the initiation of a required background check of the purchaser or when the purchase is approved following any background check.” This bill would require a waiting period of three days before a person can take possession of their purchased firearm.
Proponents of this bill claim it will prevent suicide in Colorado. Labeling the waiting period a “cool-off” period, they say it will prevent people who are suicidal from acting impulsively and give them time to rethink. However, one opponent of the bill, Ronald Dietz, states “Someone who is suicidal, is going to find a way to commit suicide.” Dietz continues, “Guns do not cause suicide, restrictions on guns will not prevent suicide.”
In a study conducted by the Rand Corporation following the passage of the Brady Act, which imposed a five-day waiting period in certain states, evidence showed waiting periods only delayed suicide rather than preventing it. This study states that “The most elevated relative risk of firearm suicide (compared with the general population) occurred in the first week after receipt of the weapon and remained highly elevated during the first month of purchase.”
In a statement from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, Executive Director Taylor Rhodes says ““RMGO and our legislative allies aren’t going to let off the gas in opposing this blatantly unconstitutional measure” Rhodes continued, “We know the terrible political realities in Colorado, so we are preparing a comprehensive suite of litigation to defeat the anti-gun agenda in Federal Court.”
HB-1219 passed the House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs committee in a vote of 7-4, with Democrat Rep. Said Sharbini joining Republicans voting against this bill.