Gun barrels must be sold only in-person by federally licensed dealers to buyers who pass background checks. Senate Bill 26-043 bans online barrel sales and mandates five-year record-keeping. Sen. Tom Sullivan (D-Centennial) sponsors it. His son Alex was murdered in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting. Sullivan has sponsored Colorado’s major gun control bills since his 2018 election.
Under federal law, barrels are not firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives defines “firearm” as frames or receivers—serialized parts containing firing mechanisms. Barrels are components. The Gun Control Act of 1968 established this classification.
Ghost guns were already illegal when Sullivan introduced this bill. Senate Bill 23-279 took effect January 1, 2024. If the concern is ghost guns, the 2023 law addressed manufacturing firearms without serial numbers. House Bill 26-1144 bans 3D printing firearms if it passes.
Requiring licensed dealer sales equals requiring background checks for barrels. You already need a background check to buy a complete gun. Federal law doesn’t classify barrels as firearms requiring checks. Colorado would impose a stricter standard than federal law.
Five-year record-keeping creates government tracking. Law enforcement can trace which barrels were purchased, by whom, when, what caliber, from which dealer. This builds database of gun owners through component purchases.
Gun owners replace barrels for legitimate reasons. Barrels wear out from use. High-volume shooters replace them regularly. Barrels can be damaged by obstructions, corrosion, or improper cleaning. Many firearms allow barrel swaps to change caliber. Aftermarket barrels often provide better accuracy. Custom builds require barrel sourcing.
Many gun parts are purchased online because local dealers don’t stock every barrel for every model. Online retailers offer better selection and prices. Rural gun owners lack local dealers. Banning online sales forces gun owners to order through local dealers who add markup and delays, or drive hours to dealers who stock specific barrels.
James Holmes purchased firearms legally in 2012. He passed background checks. He had no criminal record. Barrel regulations would not have prevented the Aurora theater shooting. Holmes bought complete firearms legally.
With Democrat supermajorities, passage is likely. Commerce Clause and Second Amendment litigation may follow.
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