John Tiegen

If you need an example of how detached from reality some governments have become, look no further than the United Kingdom. Over the last few years, its crackdown on knives has reached new heights of absurdity. In some areas, the government is banning the sale and possession of specific kitchen knives — as if a chef’s cutlery set is to blame for violent crime. There are even knife amnesty bins where citizens can voluntarily surrender their steak knives for the greater good.

If that wasn’t dystopian enough, police have gone as far as arresting people for carrying everyday tools like screwdrivers and pliers under vague “offensive weapons” laws.

The logic — or lack thereof — is clear: instead of addressing the root causes of violence, governments keep blaming inanimate objects. The U.K. cracked down on guns, and when that didn’t solve crime, it moved to knives. What’s next? A mandatory license to buy a hammer? A government database for baseball bats?

If this sounds ridiculous, wait until you hear what’s happening in Colorado. The U.K.’s war on knives mirrors the backward thinking behind an unconstitutional nightmare that makes legal gun ownership nearly impossible for many Coloradans while doing absolutely nothing to stop criminals.

Originally pitched as a magazine expansion bill, the legislation has morphed into a Frankenstein of bad policy with so many amendments that even lawmakers can’t keep up. And just like the U.K.’s failed approach to knife bans, this bill is built on the misguided belief that restricting law-abiding citizens will somehow stop criminals. Spoiler alert: it won’t.

At the heart of the Colorado bill’s insanity is a pay-to-play Second Amendment loophole introduced by state Sen. Julie Gonzales, in which Coloradans can essentially “buy back” their constitutional rights — but only if they pay for and pass a series of government-mandated courses and tests. Residents must obtain a certified hunter safety license and take a four-hour class taught by an instructor handpicked by the sheriff’s office, which also comes with an added fee.

If they don’t already have a hunter’s safety license, they must complete a 12-hour class, similar to the eight-hour course required for a concealed carry permit. They must pass a written test with at least a 90 percent score and demonstrate firearm safety proficiency. Finally, they must apply for a special permit through the sheriff’s office, which can be denied if the sheriff deems them unfit.

To be clear, this process is just to buy a rifle or shotgun. Meanwhile, criminals with no regard for the law can and will continue getting their guns off the black market.

For those who can’t afford the classes, fees and permits, the bill forces them to buy “neutered” guns with permanent, welded magazines — firearms that are unsafe, impractical and outright dangerous for inexperienced shooters. This “solution” is a disaster waiting to happen.

Think about it: How does someone load a rifle with a welded-in magazine? What happens when that magazine wears out? Magazines don’t last forever, and springs weaken over time. If the gun malfunctions, will manufacturers honor the warranty after a gunsmith epoxies or welds a magazine to the receiver? Doubtful.

If a first-time gun buyer purchases one of these “Frankenstein” guns and experiences malfunctions because of poor design, it could lead to more negligent discharges, accidents and injuries. Let’s be honest — this isn’t about safety. It’s about forcing Coloradans to jump through hoops until they give up on gun ownership altogether.

Gun control has never been about safety — it’s about control. The U.K. started with gun bans, then moved to knives, and now arrests people for carrying screwdrivers. Colorado is heading down the same road, using the bill to strangle legal gun ownership under the guise of “public safety.”

It doesn’t take a Marine and security contractor to know that education, not overregulation, keeps people safe. The Colorado bill is a disaster for gun owners, hunters and Coloradans who want to protect themselves.

If we let lawmakers trample on our rights like this, it won’t stop with the bill. The real solution to violence isn’t banning tools — it’s empowering people to protect themselves. Colorado lawmakers need to wake up, drop this absurd bill, and focus on the real issue: criminals, not law-abiding gun owners.

John Tiegen is a former Marine sergeant from Colorado. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.