Letter from the Director
Dear Fellow Federal Firearms Licensee,
As president of the Colorado Federal Firearms Licensee Association (CFFLA), representing the interests of over 2,100 FFLs across Colorado, I'm writing to update you on our efforts to protect your business interests in the face of increasingly burdensome legislation.
HB 24-1353 and the recently passed 6.5% excise tax represent yet another layer of regulatory complexity aimed at our industry, threatening an estimated $50 million+ in annual state tax revenue and thousands of jobs across Colorado. However, I want to share some positive developments in our work to minimize its impact. The Director of the Department of Revenue Firearms Division and her team have shown genuine receptiveness to our concerns and technical expertise during the rulemaking process. Their willingness to engage in substantive dialogue has been encouraging as we work to shape practical implementation of these mandates.
Yesterday, I met with State Senator Roberts (District 8) to establish CFFLA's presence as an industry authority and watchdog. Our goal is clear: to ensure that future legislation cannot be advanced without full consideration of its impact on our businesses and our customers' constitutional rights.
Tomorrow's rulemaking session is crucial, and I want to emphasize that nothing is set in stone. With additional anti-firearm legislation planned for the upcoming session, including proposed bans on magazine-fed weapons, your participation is more critical than ever. The rules are still being developed, and your input matters. We're focusing on several critical areas:
Security requirements that don't create unnecessary operational burdens
Practical approaches to employee training
Viable solutions for home-based FFLs
Clear guidelines that protect legitimate business operations
CFFLA exists to be your voice in these proceedings. We need your active participation to effectively push back against detrimental legislation and help shape workable regulations. If you would like to participate in tomorrow's rulemaking session or share your concerns, please join the zoom call HERE. All members of the public (not a working group member) are able to join the call and make themselves heard. Meeting will commence at 1:00 PM MST January 8th, 2025.
CFFLA is developing comprehensive economic impact analyses and building coalitions with affected industries to present a united front against harmful legislation. Our goal is to ensure that any proposed regulations receive proper scrutiny regarding their impact on legitimate businesses and constitutional rights.
Since our formation, everyone involved with CFFLA has worked pro-bono, with operational costs covered through personal contributions. These expenses - including travel for meetings with legislators and regulatory officials, website maintenance, communication systems, and administrative overhead - have averaged around $200 monthly. While I've been glad to personally cover these initial costs, the growth of our organization and the increasing scope of our mission will require additional resources. To ensure CFFLA's continued effectiveness in protecting your interests, we are establishing a transparent donation system for those who wish to support our efforts. Our lean operational structure means that your contributions will directly fund our advocacy work, not administrative bloat.
United, we present a stronger front against legislative overreach while working constructively with regulatory authorities who have shown willingness to listen.
Sincerely,
Sean Steele
President, Colorado Federal Firearms Licensee Association
P.S. If you haven't joined CFFLA yet, I encourage you to visit our website and join us on social media. Your participation strengthens our ability to protect your interests and fight back against harmful legislation. www.CFFLA.org, links to socials below.
