Thread by @shayshinecastle

Next up: Gun control legislation that #Boulder (and I think other area municipalities) are considering.

Staff presentation: documents.bouldercolorado.gov/WebLink/DocVie…

This is a redo of the city's 2018 ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines that was undone by the courts in March 2021. Now a new state law allows local control.

In addition to that redo, they're proposing a bunch of new stuff, including:
- Raising the age limit for purchasing firearms from 18 to 21
- Instituting a 10-day waiting period for purchases
- Disallowing open carry
- Disallowing concealed carry in "sensitive" areas

(Like hospitals, schools, liquor stores, at protests, etc. There's a whole list)

Also
- Requiring firearm sellers to post a warning, like on cigarettes

- Banning ghost guns (without a serial #)
- And some additional requirements for firearms sellers, including insurance and some civil liability

With all of these, there are exemptions for law enforcement, military, security guard, etc.

We're gonna go through each one of these. But those are the highlights. See the presentation for more.

And again, this is just what's proposed. Council going to weigh in right now.

Friend: There's an exemption for open carry if the weapon is in a locked and sealed case. I've seen people at protesters "be cute with this" and have guns in a clear case, so you can still see they have an assault weapon. Do we need this exemption?

Joseph: Does this mirror state law? What does Colorado law say on open carry?

Luis Toro, with city attorney's office: Colorado is generally an open carry state, but the point of new state legislation is that we can be more strict as a local gov't.

"These are already proposals that don't already exist in state law."

Straw poll time: Council supports the city attorney drafting an ordinance for that.

Again, not *passing* the ordinance at this time. There will still be a public hearing and all that. This is just feedback that council will support this.

Proposal 2: Banning carry in sensitive areas. There's a lot of 'em.

Would you be interested in including an exception for local law enforcement? City Attorney Teresa Taylor Tate asks.

Law enforcement already exempted; idk why local law enforcement would need to be specified.

Joseph: If they're on official duty, that's understandable to have their weapons.

Another Joseph q is: I fully support anything that protects community members, but how would we enforce this? Wouldn't we need metal detectors in the building to know?

Benjamin: What about private property? Isn't that up to them to decide their carry policies? Would this allow them to ban carry if they want, but not ban them if they don't?

Toro: Only places of worship could opt out (and allow ppl to carry firearms there).

Benjamin: What about private entities that hire armed security guards? Would they be exempt?

Toro will make a tweak to the language. Security guards hired *by the city* were exempted already, but many private entities hire their own, of course.

"In today's world, there are institutions that may want to have a meaningful security presence," Wallach says.

And another note from Toro on exemptions for law enforcement (who I believe are exempted on almost all of these): Law enforcement are always exempted, bc they are always considered to be on duty.

Joseph: Does this apply to private property? Doesn't this infringe upon their rights?

Toro: The point is that this is more sensitive and more public areas, like arenas and banks, etc. Not someone's home.

Straw poll: Majority support for this proposal.

Next: Raising the age for legal purchase of a firearm from 18 to 21.

This already applies to certain types of firearms, but this would extend to all.

Joseph: What's the current law?
Toro: In Boulder, it's 21. In Colorado, it's 18. The idea is to start over with a new ordinance. But the same intent.

OK so it's already on all firearms in Boulder. We just need some language updates.

Straw poll: Council majority support for this proposal.

Next: 10-day waiting period to purchase a firearm after the background check starts. Lots of exemptions.

Majority council support for that.

Next: Assault weapons bans 2.0. It includes a large capacity magazine ban like the last one, but also prohibits trigger activators.

And it also allows civil liability if any of these things are used in a crime.

Brockett: Have we considered civil liability for all firearms? Not just these things?

Toro: These are pretty new laws. San Jose has done one. We can look into it.

Brockett: I'm not saying we should. I'm interested in your advice on that.

Friend: I would like to know more about the civil liability piece. Is it *any* crime where maybe you'd just have these weapons on you? How likely is it to survive a legal challenge? I'd like more info.

Let's talk certifications: That's part of the old law. NOT new, and NOT a registration. People who already did this wouldn't have to re-certify. dailycamera.com/2018/11/30/85-…

Majority council support for this one, too (with qs about civil liability, tho).

Next: Requirements for firearm and ammo sellers. Lots of stuff in here.

I think Boulder only has one gun store...? Downtown, on 14th just off Arapahoe.

There may be some online sellers of ammo, tho.

Joseph: "With this one, I feel we are crossing over the role of ATF. I'm concerned we are putting laws on the books that we may not have the manpower, the expertise to enforce."

Toro: "It does duplicate to some extent what the ATF does." It gets to the "perception that the ATF hasn't been able to hold up their end of it."

It will be the heaviest lift in terms of enforcement.

No one from BPD available tonight, but Chief Herold has seen these proposals, staff says.

General direction from council: If staff doesn't think this is feasible, let us know.

Otherwise, "I probably won't be supporting this," Friend says.

Speer: If there's a price tag associated with it, I'd like to know. Like if we need X amount more staff or budget.

Next: Required signage for firearms dealers, which I already shared. (But I'll do it again)

Which is interesting. Not that I keep up on firearm legislation, but this one is nothing I've ever heard of. Some precedence with cigarettes, I guess...?

Folkerts: Is there one hotline number or website that would help with all of the issues mentioned on the warning sign?
Tate: It's just for mental health (given the high rate of suicide by gun).

Majority council support for this proposal, too.

Lastly: Banning ghost guns — ones with no serial #.

Exemptions for antiques or made before Oct. 22, 1968 (no idea why that date) or law enforcement, of course.

Benjamin asking what I'm thinking: Why that exact date?

Toro: It's when the feds started requiring serial numbers. It went into effect on that date.

Last straw poll: Majority support for this proposal, too.

And that's all of 'em.

Again, these remain proposals. City attorney will craft the text of the laws and they'll come back for the typical public process (public hearing) and approval by council.

To recap: Support for all except maybe the requirements of firearm dealers. More info needed on what enforcement and staff burden looks like on that one.

Benjamin: "Certainly as we look to the year anniversary where we lost 10 great members of our community, this is a great step for us to show we're committed to a safe and civil society."

And the night before King Soopers reopens to the public.

@threadreaderapp please unroll. Thanks.