ARTICLE - As of April 1, 2025, Colorado’s House Bill 24-1349 has rolled out a 6.5% excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and related components like barrels and triggers. The state pitches it as a revenue generator for noble causes: crime victim services, mental health programs, and school safety upgrades. On the surface, it’s hard to argue against helping victims or bolstering schools. Yet for many gun owners, retailers, and Second Amendment advocates, this tax feels less like a public good and more like a targeted jab at their constitutional rights.