A controversial gun bill now sits on Governor Jared Polis’s desk, and county officials in western Colorado are urging him not to sign it—loudly and clearly.

After clearing both chambers of the state legislature, Senate Bill 003—which bans the sale and transfer of many semi-automatic firearms—has sparked fierce backlash from rural counties. Mesa and Montrose County commissioners aren’t holding back.

County leaders call SB-003 “unconstitutional”

“This is not about politics,” said Sean Pond, Montrose County Commissioner. “It’s about rights.”

Pond and his Mesa County counterpart, JJ Fletcher, issued formal resolutions opposing the legislation. Both counties voted to send the letters straight to Governor Polis’s office. Their message? Senate Bill 003 goes too far.

The letters argue that the bill would do more harm than good—hurting small businesses, threatening constitutional rights, and failing to address the root causes of gun violence.

One-sentence paragraph here.

Mesa County’s resolution said the bill “jeopardizes the livelihood of local gun dealers” and poses “a direct threat to public safety.” In other words, the commissioners see this not just as a gun issue—but as an economic and cultural one.

“This emboldens criminals,” officials argue

For Fletcher and Pond, the concern isn’t just about the guns themselves—it’s about who’s being affected. And in their eyes, it’s the wrong people.

“You’re never going to fix a problem by taking the ability to protect yourself away from law-abiding citizens,” Pond said. “All you’re doing is emboldening criminals.”

Fletcher echoed that thought, adding that Mesa County residents feel strongly about their rights under the Second Amendment.

“They’ve spoken. They feel this is government overreach,” he said.

There’s frustration building, not just over the bill’s content, but over how quickly it moved through the legislature.

One-line pause. Just to let it sink in.

Both counties say they weren’t given enough input, and that rural voices are being drowned out by urban agendas.

What SB-003 actually does

Senate Bill 003 is one of the most aggressive firearm proposals Colorado has seen in years. If signed into law, it would ban the sale, purchase, transfer, and importation of most semi-automatic rifles and pistols—regardless of whether the buyer passes a background check or already owns other firearms.

Here’s a quick summary of what it includes:

• Bans new sales or transfers of many common semi-automatic firearms

• Imposes penalties on licensed dealers who continue selling restricted weapons

• Allows exceptions for law enforcement and military personnel

• Grandfathers in existing owners—but only if they register their weapons

Gun rights groups have promised legal challenges, and it’s widely expected the bill will end up in court.

A growing rift between counties and state lawmakers

The fight over SB-003 isn’t happening in a vacuum. For years, tensions have been rising between Colorado’s rural counties and its urban-heavy legislature.

Rural commissioners say they’re tired of laws being passed in Denver that don’t reflect the values—or the daily realities—of their communities.

“This is a pattern,” Fletcher said. “One-size-fits-all policy out of the capital. No flexibility. No local input.”

In Montrose and Mesa, where hunting, ranching, and firearm ownership are part of the cultural fabric, the bill feels personal.

It’s not just another law—it’s a flashpoint.

Will Polis veto it?

That’s the million-dollar question. Governor Jared Polis has historically taken a more centrist approach to gun legislation compared to some in his party. But with Democratic supermajorities in both chambers, the pressure is on.

Fletcher and Pond say they’ve each personally called the governor’s office to plead for a veto.

They’ve also encouraged residents to do the same.

The commissioners are betting that grassroots pressure from rural counties could make a difference.

“Call him. Email him. Let him know this isn’t what Colorado wants,” said Pond.

Mesa County residents have already begun flooding state channels with opposition, according to staff familiar with the calls. Whether it’ll be enough remains unclear.

But one thing is crystal: the battle over gun rights in Colorado isn’t cooling off. It’s heating up—and rural counties aren’t backing down.