Politicians in Castle Rock, Colo. may be shooting themselves in the foot this week by attempting to further restrict the Second Amendment rights of their constituents. In an act demonstrating an acute case of tone-deafness to the state’s current political environment, the Castle Rock Town Council is scheduled to evaluate a broad ban on open carry this Tuesday.
The necessity of such a ban is puzzling because, according to the mayor, in 11 years, he has never seen a single person open carry in the town other than himself. As the council members embark upon this solution looking for a problem, they deserve every drop of constituent push back headed their way.
The proposed ban will cover “municipally-owned, operated or leased: offices, buildings, parks, trails and open space areas, and other recreation facilities and areas, including but not limited to, swimming pools and golf courses.”
Notice the open-ended definition of “other recreation facilities and areas” being “not limited to…” People jog and push strollers along city owned sidewalks – could the enforcers decide that sidewalks, which are government-owned, are one of the “areas” included in the ban, essentially outlawing open carry in the entire town? Of course later in the proposal there is a carve out that allows agents of the government to exercise open carry on municipal property.
After the recall of two sitting state senators, and the resignation of a third, partially because of their anti-Second Amendment votes and wholly because of their refusal to listen to constituents, we are astonished that the elected leaders of Castle Rock would want to go anywhere near these issues – especially considering that people generally do not open carry in the town. But if they want to open this Pandora’s Box on Tuesday, we will stand beside the freedom-loving citizens of Castle Rock.
Interested parties may attend the meeting scheduled for 6:00 PM on Tuesday 12/3 at the Castle Rock Town Hall, 100 North Wilcox. According to the published agenda, the open carry ban will be discussed from 6:20 – 7:20 PM, with the opportunity for citizen input in four minute speaking segments. The meeting can also be viewed online here.
Denver use to be open carry until the lib left wing nut jobs got into power, now car jacking's are up and people aren't even allowed to carry in their car unless the gun is in the trunk and shell's in the glove box or the other way around, that don't make sense, like having a lock box in your home, your going to unlock it while someone is in your home to harm you? Stupid, I sleep with mine and if you weren't invited into my home you will be carried out.
A James Brown, It's your choice. I have no problem with open carry, I have at times but I like the tactical advantage. I choose when to present the weapon, or not to at all. I don't wear shoot me first gear either.
Jack Clancy I carry openly because it avoids the hassle to start with. No one robs a 7-11 when a cop car is parked in front.
Denver is the only city with an enforceable OC ban. Everywhere else is good to go. Including Boulder.
I've open carried all over CO for years. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean people don't do it.
State law allows local governments to restrict open carry in specific areas. However, must be posted at every entrance to the area where open carry is prohibited. Blanket OC bans areillegal
If Castle Rock wants to fence in public areas and post them no-OC at every entrance, that is already permitted by state law. But an unfenced open publicly owned area can't be so designated.
Evil is just calling people names. I carry concealed because it gives me a tactical advantage. So brave on the internet.
When the supreme court of Colo. upheld the Denver open carry ban, they did so only because of Denver's home rule status allowing it to wiggle out of statutory and implied state firearms preemption – Castle Rock is not a home rule locality and there fore cannot outlaw open carry in Castle Rock..
Thanks for showing up Leslie, great testimony.
Concealed weapons are evil.
Open carry is the only positive way to go.
Only a pussy hides their guns.
No problem get a concealed handgun permit. Wife and I never leave home unarmed. You would think given the current events they would just walk away. They can be recalled and voted out also. Sometimes the only way to fix stupid is vote them out.
The agenda says meeting starts at 6 PM this proposal will be discussed at 6:20…What time do we need to be there if we want to state our views about this.
I've lived in Colorado for 34 years and only in the past few months have I seen anyone open carry.
Open carry – yes.
Concealed – no.
Very true. I don't venture outside my area with a big iron on my hip. I don't have time to research every enclave to make sure I'm not violating anyone's sensibilities. Could get you shot.
That said, I wish I would have. Frankly, I'm afraid to. It seems like there are a patchwork of laws on where you can and can't. I know you can't in Denver and Boulder proper, but which suburbs allow it and don't. What about the Springs? Pueblo? Fort Collins? Greeley? Brighton? Evergreen? Idaho Springs? Its just a mess…
I've lived here in Routt County and Northern Eagle County for about 16 years. I know several people who open carry and I open carry quite often. Depends where you live.
We do not need more of our constitutional rights taken away from us, this is a ridiculous expansion of the code.
I've lived in Colorado almost 3 years and have NEVER seen anyone open carrying.