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Colorado Democrats advanced legislation to prohibit so-called “assault weapons” through the Colorado State Senate, prompting alarm from Second Amendment advocacy groups.

The legislation defines a “specified semiautomatic firearm” as a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine, or a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine. The bill then bans the manufacturing, distributing, or purchasing of such weapons.

Ian Escalante, the executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, revealed on Tuesday that the legislation advanced out of the Colorado State Senate with a vote of nineteen to fifteen.

Colorado Republican State Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen advocated against the bill, warning colleagues that the right to bear arms is “not a privilege granted by the government,” but is instead “a right inherent to who I am and enshrined in the United States Constitution.”

Colorado Democratic State Senator Tom Sullivan, who lost his son at a shooting in Aurora, Colorado, thirteen years ago, sponsored the legislation and spoke in favor of gun control.

“I wish that I never had to be here,” Sullivan shouted. “I wish that Alex had called me and said ‘Dad why don’t you come with me tonight?’ Then I wouldn’t have to be standing here.”

Sullivan claimed that groups of veterans had been calling his office and threatening him over the proposal. “To all the Green Berets and Navy veterans who are threatening me,” the lawmaker continued, “I stood up during Vietnam and told this country, send me wherever you need me.”

Some lawmakers meanwhile voiced concern that the ban on “assault weapons” included a firearm registry. Colorado Republican State Senator Marc Catlin said that he had “hundreds of emails” from citizens expressing concern that they will have to “put their name on a list.”