Another reason for open carry ... your local sheriff in Colorado may use his/her discretionary authority to deny or revoke concealed carry permits and there is a growing trend that Sheriffs are exercising that authority. That means that even if you have not been charged or convicted of a crime, involved in domestic violence or suffer from a mental illness or addiction, Colorado Sheriffs simply ignore the "shall issue" language of the statute and deny or revoke concealed handgun permits.
Said differently, you may not be able to get a concealed handgun permit in Colorado simply because your local elected sheriff does not like you.
This has become a political issue in Teller county where 1/3d of the revocations in the state are attributable to the local sheriff. The reports from the state showing how many concealed weapons permits are granted, denied and revoked by county are posted here (and attached to this post):
2nd Amendment Rights | Mark Manriquez for Teller County Sheriff
Note that in Teller county the sheriff revoked about 10% of the concealed handgun permit renewals under his discretionary authority. In contrast, in Douglas county, the Sheriff revoked only 1 renewal application among a pool of about 1,500.
In Denver, 4 years ago, no applications were denied under the Sheriff's discretionary authority. But, in 2013, 47 applicants were denied under the Sheriff's discretionary authority. What changed in Denver? Likewise, in El Paso County in 2013, 85 applicants were denied under the discretionary authority -- these are not people denied for criminal reasons, for domestic violence or addiction or mental illness.
Are these discretionary denials and revocations made of political opponents or because the Sheriff does not like someone?
While there are Sheriffs who are 2nd Amendment supporters in Colorado, these reports indicate that there are significant numbers who believe that Sheriffs have the authority to ignore the "shall issue" language of the statute and deny law abiding citizens the right to bear arms.
I've contacted Colorado gun organizations (including the NRA) and they don't seem to care about this ... they are more concerned about getting a dollar from members to challenge Bloomberg rather than recognize that the folks who are actually violating gun laws are local, elected Sheriffs.
IMHO, this is a reason for supporting Chris Holbert's Constitutional Carry bill.
Said differently, you may not be able to get a concealed handgun permit in Colorado simply because your local elected sheriff does not like you.
This has become a political issue in Teller county where 1/3d of the revocations in the state are attributable to the local sheriff. The reports from the state showing how many concealed weapons permits are granted, denied and revoked by county are posted here (and attached to this post):
2nd Amendment Rights | Mark Manriquez for Teller County Sheriff
Note that in Teller county the sheriff revoked about 10% of the concealed handgun permit renewals under his discretionary authority. In contrast, in Douglas county, the Sheriff revoked only 1 renewal application among a pool of about 1,500.
In Denver, 4 years ago, no applications were denied under the Sheriff's discretionary authority. But, in 2013, 47 applicants were denied under the Sheriff's discretionary authority. What changed in Denver? Likewise, in El Paso County in 2013, 85 applicants were denied under the discretionary authority -- these are not people denied for criminal reasons, for domestic violence or addiction or mental illness.
Are these discretionary denials and revocations made of political opponents or because the Sheriff does not like someone?
While there are Sheriffs who are 2nd Amendment supporters in Colorado, these reports indicate that there are significant numbers who believe that Sheriffs have the authority to ignore the "shall issue" language of the statute and deny law abiding citizens the right to bear arms.
I've contacted Colorado gun organizations (including the NRA) and they don't seem to care about this ... they are more concerned about getting a dollar from members to challenge Bloomberg rather than recognize that the folks who are actually violating gun laws are local, elected Sheriffs.
IMHO, this is a reason for supporting Chris Holbert's Constitutional Carry bill.
