If you are a Colorado resident, then it is important that you take note
of the new gun laws that have affected every resident in the state. On July 20th, 2012, tragedy struck in Aurora, Colorado when a man wearing a gas mask
walked into a midnight showing of "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises"
and began shooting at the audience. The attack killed 12 and injured 58
in the cinema that night. The suspect, James Holmes, has been arrested
and will be tried for the
assault and murders. He faces a potential life sentence. Seventy people were shot
in the attack, making this the largest mass shooting in the United States
and the largest massacre in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.
Tightening of Gun Laws in Colorado
As a result of the tragic accident, the Colorado government chose to tighten
gun laws in hopes of preventing another attack. Colorado has always had
a broad support for Second Amendment rights, and has been dedicated to
allowing citizens to carry guns. Yet between the tragedies of the Aurora
cinema and the Columbine High School, the lawmakers have observed the
need to make some restrictions. Now, there are strict regulations that
must be followed when a Colorado gun show is hosted, and there are laws
regulating the people’s ability to carry
concealed weapons in the state. As well, “straw purchases” are no longer allowed
in the state. These are purchases where a gun is covertly dealt to a person
who would not qualify to buy it legitimately.
Any man or woman who has been convicted of a
violent crime or has a criminal record is not permitted to own firearms. Despite tightening
the laws, Colorado still has one of the more relaxed gun regulation policies
in the state. For example, people in Colorado are still allowed to carry
firearms in a vehicle as long as the gun is intended for a lawful use.
The New York Times writes that it is legal to carry a concealed weapon in Colorado if the
person carrying the weapon has a permit. Colorado is one of the states
that allows many residents to get permits without serious restrictions.
The National Conference of State Legislatures declares that Colorado is
one of the 38 “shall issue” states, which means that if a
person complies with certain requirements then the state is compelled
to issue that applicant a permit. The state cannot distinguish whether
or not a person qualifies based on their mannerisms or suspicious behavior.
Typically, some of the reasons that a person may be denied a permit are
diagnosed mental illness, or a felony conviction. As well, if there is
a restraining order against the applicant, chances are that his or her
request for a permit may be denied. A Colorado State Senate Bill reads
that all applicants who want a concealed weapons permit must be a legal
resident of the state of Colorado and at least 21 years of age. As well,
the applicant must prove that he or she is not an
alcoholic and has not been convicted of perjury. He or she must prove that he or
she is not an unlawful user of addictive or
controlled substances If a person has a previous past with alcohol or
drugs he or she can receive an affidavit signed by a rehab counselor in order
to qualify for a permit. An applicant must prove that he or she is not
under any type of restraining order and can demonstrate competence with
a handgun. This is one of the most relaxed “may issue” statutes
in the United States.
Organizations such as the
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence have tried to champion for tighter gun regulations, but Colorado seems
to be keeping most of their laws in place. Still, with the recent massacre,
the gun laws that are already existing may be enforced more readily than
before. Colorado citizens currently don’t have to have a permit
to purchase, register, license, or carry a rifle or shotgun, and handguns
can be owned and operated without a permit as long as they are not concealed.
Colorado law states that handguns are not considered concealed if they
are in possession of a person who is in a private automobile. Also, all
peace officers have the right to carry a concealed handgun. So do probation
officers and law enforcement officers.
All gun owners in the state of Colorado need to attend a hunter’s
safety course or a firearms safety course and must travel with their handguns
unloaded to and from activities. Juvenile gun owners must have permission
from their guardian or parent in order to possess a gun. Colorado also
has some gun laws that are important to note, as they are exceptions to
the typical rules. It is unlawful to have any firearm either than a handgun
in a motor vehicle unless the chamber is disabled. This is because in
the event of a crash, the gun could go off and seriously injure someone.
As well, firearms must be unloaded and placed in a scabbard if they are
going to be carried on a snowmobile. Also, residents are not permitted
to shoot any firearm while in an airplane or a moving vehicle.
It is illegal to possess any firearm while under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. If a gun does not have a serial number, then it is an illegal
firearm and the owner can be arrested. If you have been arrested for any sort of
weapons crime in Colorado, then you need the help of an accomplished attorney to come
to your aid. At
The Samuelson Law Firm Mr. Samuelson is dedicated to helping you when you are caught in one of
these crimes. As a member of the Colorado Bar Association, American Bar
Association, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Mr.
Samuelson has been recognized by others who have seen his work.
If you want to learn more about The Samuelson Law Firm, you can check out
the firm on
Facebook, or visit them on Google+. They have both a
business page and an
attorney page on their site, which you can explore to learn more about the firm and
the practice areas that they specialize in. As well, if you want to
follow us on Twitter you will get frequent updates about the many different law cases and litigation
breakthroughs in the state. You can also contact the firm by calling (729)
941-1127 or filling out our
free case evaluation form. We will look at your e-mail and deduce your case to develop the
best defense strategy. After that we will contact you and discuss your
options. A lot of people hire the first attorney that they stumble upon
to work on their case, or use a court appointed attorney to save on expenses.
If you are charged with a weapons crime, then you need to hire a Colorado
criminal defense attorney that you can trust. Mr. Samuelson can help you
by advocating in your stead in court. Talk to him today for more information!