Summary of Passed and Failed Bills in Colorado Legislature

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HB13-1224
Prohibiting Large-Capacity Ammunition Magazine

House bill 1224 prohibits the sale, purchase, transfer or possession of detachable magazines holding more than 15 rounds; unless it a detachable magazine for a shotgun where the limit is 8 rounds. Tubular feeding shotguns containing more than 28" of shotgun shells in the tube are also prohibited the same (extensions allowed if they don't make the entire tube exceed 28"). There is a grandfather clause in the bill, for any soon-to-be banned magazines, shotguns, etc, possessed on July 1. Grandfathered magazines are exempted from the ban so long as they continuously stay in your possession. It also includes and bans any magazines that are "readily convertible to accept more than their statutory limits".

Effective July 1, there will be no sale, transfer or purchase of new magazines above these limits. What you have will be yours for life. You cannot buy any more, sell any to anyone, or transfer them in any fashion. This means that your heirs cannot inherit these magazines in Colorado.

Manufacturers in Colorado may produce magazines in Colorado over the 15 round (or 8 for shotgun) if they include a manufacture date (serialization was removed by amendment). The law also exempts peace officers of any jurisdiction, licensed retailers who can sell to LEO and out of state and military. Further exemptions are made for any leaver action, tubular feeding firearm, or any 22 rimfire tubular feeding firearm.

First violation gets you a class 2 misdemeanor, subsequent violations get you a class 1 misdemeanor. Using a banned magazine in the commission of a violent crime gets you a class 6 felony.

Some interesting problems with the wording of the legislation:
1. It does not allow for temporary transfer. So you are breaking the law if someone shoots your AR in your presence with one of your 20 or 30 round magazines.
2. With strict adherence to the law, a magazine that is lost or stolen cannot be returned to you as it is no longer grandfathered by way of non-continual possession.
3. I am unsure on the KSG, as it has two tubular feeding devices, but as the length of shells end to end in the 14 round KSG will exceed 28", I suspect it will be illegal.
4. With the readily convertible clause, most magazines should be considered banned. A G22 Magazine with a 15 round capacity can readily be converted to hold more with an extended base plate for example.

This bill must return to the house for approval of the senate ammendments.