For the second year in a row, the Colorado legislature is considering a bill that would ban the purchase of so-called “assault weapons” in the state. And this time around, the concept is gaining some ground. 

While the bill from last year was rejected in its first committee hearing, the House approved the new version this week. Now, it faces an uncertain future as it travels through the Senate.

The bill includes certain types of semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns in its definition of assault weapons, including those with fixed large-capacity magazines and the ability to accept detachable magazines. It also names specific models of guns that would be banned, including AR-15s and AK-47s.

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House Bill 1292 was introduced Thursday in the Senate and assigned to the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee. The five-person committee has a Democratic majority. Two of those Democratic senators have expressed support for the general concept of the bill but the third, Sen. Tom Sullivan, a Centennial Democrat, is likely to be the swing vote. 

Sullivan’s son, Alex, was killed in the Aurora theater shooting in 2012 and he has been a vocal supporter of tightening gun laws ever since. But he’s often expressed skepticism for a statewide assault weapons ban. Given the Republican opposition to the bill, if he votes against the measure, it’s almost certain to lose in committee. However, if he votes in favor of the bill, it could be considered by the whole chamber.

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Eighteen of the chamber’s 23 Democrats would then need to vote in favor of the bill for it to be sent to Gov. Jared Polis, who has said he’s skeptical of the legislation but has stopped short of saying he would veto it. 

The State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee hasn’t yet scheduled the bill for a public hearing and vote. The 120-day legislative session ends May 8.  

The bill’s sponsors, Reps. Tim Hernandez and Elizabeth Epps and Sen. Julie Gonzales, all Democrats, say the legislation would make Colorado safer by reducing the amount of high-powered firearms in the state. Republicans have expressed opposition to the concept, calling it a violation of the Second Amendment. Still, the votes haven’t totally played out along party lines. 

Here’s where lawmakers representing Colorado’s Western Slope currently stand on the legislation:

Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs: Lukens sided with the Republicans in the chamber in voting against the bill but called it the “hardest vote” she’s ever had to make.

When talking about her vote, Lukens cited the Second Amendment and voiced concerns about whether the ban would lead to more people leaving Colorado to buy the banned firearms in neighboring states.

“People from all over Colorado would be traveling through my district to go to Utah or Wyoming to purchase assault weapons,” she said “And that also could create a more unsafe environment.”

Lukens, who was a teacher before coming to the legislature, said her decision was made more complicated by the memory of talking to students after a mass shooting happened. She had a specific lesson plan she used every time. 

“I used it too many times,” she said.

The bill brought the most correspondence — specifically from people asking her to vote “no” — than any other, she said. 

Eight other Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the measure.

Lukens represents House District 26, which encompasses much of the Northwest corner of the state including Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and most of Eagle County. 

Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco: When asked Friday how he would vote on the bill if given the chance, Roberts didn’t say.

“I am still taking time to review the policy,” he said. 

Roberts is the vice chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was the other committee option the bill could have been assigned to. If that were the case, Roberts, who has expressed skepticism on other gun legislation, was expected to possibly be a swing vote on the bill. 

Roberts represents Senate District 8, which encompasses Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt and Summit counties and parts of Eagle and Garfield counties.

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon: McCluskie, the leader of the House, voted in favor of the legislation when representatives considered it Sunday. 

McCluskie said the decision was extremely difficult for her because she represents many people in support and against the legislation. Ultimately, her experience working in schools and seeing active shooter drills led to her decision. 

“I had to make a choice with what I could both believe in and live with,” she said. “If I were to vote no … and there were to be an act of violence, I would always wonder if I had been able to help in stopping that.”

McCluskie represents House District 13, which spans Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park and Summit counties and includes most of Chaffee County.

Sen. Perry Will, R-New Castle: Will said he plans to vote against the bill, if given the chance.

“It makes zero sense,” he said. “It won’t do anything. It won’t stop mass shootings … It’s just criminalizing law-abiding citizens.” 

Will represents Senate District 5, which encompasses Gunnison, Hinsdale and Pitkin counties and parts of Delta, Eagle, Montrose and Garfield counties. 

Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs: Velasco voted “yes” on the bill. She said she felt strongly that it was the right thing to do and said she’s proud that the House was able to progress the measure. That’s largely because of the impact on school safety, she said. 

“We continue to have drills in case there’s a person who comes in with guns,” she said. “That’s very traumatic for kids.”

Velasco represents House District 56, which encompasses Garfield and Pitkin counties and part of Eagle County.

Elliott Wenzler is the Western Slope politics reporter for the Craig Press and its sister publications in Glenwood Springs, Vail, Steamboat Springs, Craig, Summit County and Grand County. Reach her at ewenzler@swiftcom.com.