Boulder advances ban on sale, possession of assault weapons

The Boulder City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to advance a ban on the sale and possession of assault weapons, bump stocks and highcapacity magazines in the city.

In recent weeks, the terms and scope of the council’s proposed ban have been hotly debated, including at a multihour public hearing before the council April 5, during a street protest on Broadway and through hundreds of emails to the council from citizens.

What the council voted for on Tuesday is not final. In order to be adopted as law, it will need to be voted on again at a third reading that will likely take place in the next few weeks.

It will become effective as soon as it’s adopted. At that point, citizens who own bump stocks will have to get rid of them within 30 days of adoption. They’d have to get rid of magazines with the capacity to hold 10 or more rounds by Dec. 31.

After lengthy deliberation, the council landed on a law that is in some ways stricter than what City Attorney Tom Carr originally drafted, with fewer exemptions.

Assaultstyle weapons, under a specific and technical definition Carr has written, could not be sold or possessed under this law.

Once the law is formally passed — and assuming the language within it doesn’t change by the third reading — there will be exemptions only for police, federal officers and military personnel.