DENVER, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and Firearms Policy Foundation (FPF) announced the filing of an important brief before the Colorado Supreme Court in Sternberg v. Colorado, a case challenging the State’s ban on so-called “large-capacity” firearm magazines. The brief may be viewed at www.firearmspolicy.org/legal.
Despite strong protections for the right to keep and bear arms in Colorado’s constitution, the State’s General Assembly enacted a ban on so-called “large-capacity magazines.” The law barred the sale, possession, and transfer of such magazines after July 1, 2013.
FPC and FPF’s brief, authored by attorney, historian, and FPC Legal Scholar Joseph Greenlee, was joined by Second Amendment Foundation and Millennial Policy Center. In the 28-page brief, the groups provide significant historical facts and context to persuasively counter the State’s false arguments made in defending the gun control scheme, such as the notion that Colorado’s constitutional framers had no concept of repeating rifles and ammunition feeding devices that hold more than 15 rounds.
“Bans on modern-day firearms are often rationalized by the argument that federal and state founders could not have envisioned today’s guns,” explained Greenlee. “Our brief shows that the framers of Colorado’s constitution were intimately familiar with firearms capable of firing more than 15 rounds, and that they intended to protect them through an exceptionally strong arms provision in the state constitution.”
“Firearms that could hold 15 or more rounds of ammunition pre-date even the founding of Colorado as a state,” FPC President Brandon Combs said. “Such firearms and magazines are constitutionally protected today, period. Time and technological evolution do not change the fundamental nature or the scope of constitutional rights against government infringement.”
“This is an important case because it is testing state gun laws against Colorado’s strong right-to-keep-and-bear-arms state constitutional provision,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Frankly, joining in this brief has been a delight, not only because we enjoy working with our colleagues, but also because it offers an opportunity to add a historical perspective to this discussion.”
About Firearms Policy Coalition
Firearms Policy Coalition (www.firearmspolicy.org) is a 501(c)4 grassroots nonprofit organization. FPC’s mission is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, especially the fundamental, individual Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
About Firearms Policy Foundation
Firearms Policy Foundation (www.firearmsfoundation.org) is a 501(c)3 grassroots nonprofit organization. FPF’s mission is to defend the Constitution of the United States and the People’s rights, privileges and immunities deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition, especially the inalienable, fundamental, and individual right to keep and bear arms.
Only COWARDS that kneel to governmental tyranny as ‘gun control laws’ will obey a magazine ban.
All ‘gun control laws’ are un-Constitutional.
Try acting like Americans and not slaves.
Why has no one asked, WHY did it take since 2013 for a gun rights group to challenge this???
You guys are alright. If I were President I would write an EO making it unlawful to not have and carry firearms and make your gun purchases tax deductible plus I would issue to you FREE ammo on a yearly basis to include armor piercing goodies. All gun control would be abolished and I would give tax credits for each criminal that you killed. Double credit on pedo’s and traitors.
This would be my commitment to you and it would be law inside of my first 10 days.
I got the memo. Twice. Being a contributing member, I get ALL THE SPAM. EVERY DAY.
Look, just take my money and STOP SCROUNGING FOR MORE! I give what I can get away with.
GOA has their communication style right.
The common fall back used by anti-gun types is the reliance on standards for firearms when the 2A was written. If you want to do that then we should be able to ‘bear’ blunderbusses, cannon and warships as the early Americans did.
Where is our NRA or ILA during all of this. Running out of money is bad enough. Are they now just running out. Think Nugent would at least play us a farewell tune. The BOD needs to shift its gears to drive or get out of the drivers seat. It is best that the non-payed non-board members form separate member groups to recruit lawyers to file lawsuits, briefs and do what ever is needed. The organization needs to be steered in the right way by better drivers. If the BOD does not like our driving then they can get off… Read more »
The question is, why are all these laws being in acted in the first place in blatant violation of the Constitution?
Shame on any Gun Owner who votes Democrat
Not sure if they will get the ruling they desire from the Colorado Supreme Court. Too many liberal Judges on the Court. Many appointed by the DemocRAT Governors of the past. This state is screwed even more, now that we have a DemocRAT homosexual Governor who is backed by a totally DemocRATic House and Senate. Denver is a sanctuary city and now parents are not legally permitted to deal with their own children’s sexual identity. Our Constitutional rights are getting flushed down the DemocRATic toilet here in Colorado.
We just need to enforce Article VI within the US Constitution AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. Problem solved. By doing so we defund, disbar, and discharge any official in office who knowingly violates the US Constitution or is: “not in good standing with the US Constitution. Most of our leaders swear an oath to the US Constitution, it’s long over due that US Citizens demand accountability! We are supposed to be a free people, not subjugated citizens! ALL of the States, Inferior Courts, and Politicians violating the Bill of Rights need to be immediately de-funded until they regain compliance.
Maybe the Firearms policy Coalition can explain why they are not attacking the legislation on the grounds that there is no authority to regulate the keeping and bearing of arms considering the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution which is part of the supreme law of the land forbids any infringement by government. Furthermore the writings of tench coxe as well as other Founders make it quite clear the purpose of an armed civilian population is to throw off to renneke governments and that is in fact Military Arms that are protected the ownership by civilians. Officially doubt you’re… Read more »