Beginning August 1, 2026, Colorado Senate Bill 25-003 (SB25-003) will take effect, creating new requirements for the purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms in Colorado. Under the law, individuals seeking to purchase these firearms must first obtain a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card before enrolling in a state-approved firearms safety course. After successfully completing the course, they may proceed through the existing firearm purchase process required under state and federal law.

As Sheriff of Moffat County, I want to be clear about where I stand.

I strongly disagree with Senate Bill 25-003.

I believe this legislation is an overt attempt by the State of Colorado to limit our Second Amendment rights by making the lawful purchase and ownership of firearms more difficult for responsible, law-abiding citizens. Criminals do not follow these laws. Instead, the burden is placed squarely on citizens who simply wish to exercise a constitutional right guaranteed by both the United States Constitution and the Colorado Constitution.

Moffat County has proudly been declared a Second Amendment Sanctuary County by the Moffat County Board of County Commissioners. As your Sheriff, I remain steadfast in my commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of the citizens I serve.

Over the past several months, many residents have asked whether the Moffat County Sheriff's Office will participate in the SB25-003 eligibility card process.

The answer is yes.

That decision should not be interpreted as support for this law.

Rather, it is a commitment to ensuring that the law-abiding citizens of Moffat County are not forced to travel to another county simply to begin the process of exercising their constitutional rights. If the Moffat County Sheriff's Office refused to participate, our residents could be forced to seek assistance from another sheriff's office, creating an unnecessary burden on the very people I serve.

My responsibility as Sheriff is to serve the citizens of Moffat County. While I strongly oppose this legislation, I will not allow our citizens to be placed at a disadvantage because of decisions made by the Colorado Legislature.

While Colorado Parks and Wildlife is responsible for administering the statewide Firearms Safety Program, the Moffat County Sheriff's Office will work diligently to process eligibility card applications as efficiently as possible for Moffat County residents. Our goal is to ensure law-abiding citizens are not subjected to unnecessary delays while exercising their constitutional rights.

Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card Process

Beginning August 1, 2026, individuals seeking to purchase a firearm covered under SB25-003 should begin the application process through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Firearms Safety Program. Applicants will then complete the eligibility card process through their local sheriff, which includes a name-based background check and verification that they are legally eligible to possess a firearm.

Once approved, the Sheriff will issue the Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card, allowing the applicant to enroll in the required state-approved firearms safety course. After successfully completing the course, the applicant may proceed with the firearm purchase process through a federally licensed firearms dealer, including all background checks required under existing state and federal law.

Fees

The Moffat County Sheriff's Office is committed to minimizing the financial burden this law places on our citizens.

• Residents of Moffat County will not be charged an administrative processing fee by the Moffat County Sheriff's Office.
• Applicants will still be required to pay the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Firearms Training and Safety Course Record Fee, as required by Colorado law.
• Applicants who reside outside of Moffat County will be charged an administrative processing fee by the Moffat County Sheriff's Office, in addition to any fees required by Colorado law.

This decision reflects our commitment to serving the citizens of Moffat County while complying with the statutory responsibilities placed upon county sheriffs.

I want the citizens of Moffat County to understand that my willingness to administer this process should not be viewed as an endorsement of Senate Bill 25-003. It is simply my effort to ensure that law-abiding residents continue to have reasonable access to exercise their constitutional rights without unnecessary travel or additional obstacles.

I remain hopeful that the legal challenges currently pending against SB25-003 will ultimately result in the law being overturned or significantly modified. Until that time, the Moffat County Sheriff's Office will fulfill its legal responsibilities while continuing to stand firmly in support of the Second Amendment and the constitutional rights of every law-abiding citizen.

The Second Amendment is not a privilege granted by government—it is a constitutional right. While I am legally obligated to implement the requirements imposed upon sheriffs by SB25-003, I will continue to advocate for the constitutional rights of the citizens of Moffat County and support every lawful effort to overturn legislation that unnecessarily burdens those rights. My oath is to uphold the Constitution, and that commitment remains unchanged.

Information on how to obtain a Specified Semi-Automatic Firearms Eligibility Card can be found on our webpage.

Sheriff Chip McIntyre
Moffat County Sheriff's Office