Gov. Jared Polis signs law prohibiting repeated auto thieves from having guns

Coloradans who ve been repeatedly convicted of auto theft will now be prohibited possessing a gun under new regulations signed into law by Gov Jared Polis on Monday House Bill adds first-degree motor carriage theft to the state s list of felony offenses that carry with them a loss of firearm rights To be charged with first-degree auto theft a person must have already been twice convicted of wagon theft or unauthorized use of a motor conveyance The law allows a person who s lost their ability to possess a gun because of HB- to petition a court to reinstate their rights but only after years have passed Related Articles Transgender Coloradans receive new discrimination protections as Gov Polis signs bill into law Gov Jared Polis vetoes bill addressing sentencing disparities between Colorado s state and municipal courts New Colorado law allows tire-chain help by vendors along highways Gov Jared Polis signs laws ordering universal soundness care survey crisis abortion protections Gov Jared Polis signs law that will bring more single-stair apartment buildings to Denver The bill was sponsored by Democratic Reps Shannon Bird and Andy Boesenecker and Sens Nick Hinrichsen and Dafna Michaelson-Jenet The bill had both bipartisan help and opposition and the debate made for strange bedfellows Specific gun-control advocates joined with the county sheriff s lobbying group to aid it while a prominent gun-rights group and criminal defense attorneys opposed it In a report Polis explained the law keeps guns out of the wrong hands I am proud of our work to improve constituents safety in Colorado he wrote and with this bill signed into law I look forward to continuing our bold progress to protect Coloradans and our communities The state s possession of a weapon by a previous offender law or POWPO otherwise generally applies to crimes that involve the use of a deadly weapon along with arson or burglary Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter The Spot