The Douglas County Commissioners have officially positioned themselves against a new gun control measure awaiting the signature of Governor Jared Polis. The contentious Senate Bill 25-03, which recently cleared the Colorado legislature, seeks to place stringent restrictions on the possession and sale of nearly all semiautomatic firearms within the state. According to a resolution passed by the Board and reported by Douglas County, the commissioners are urging the governor to veto the legislation, which they consider not only costly but also unconstitutional.
Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle expressed concerns over the financial implications, especially highlighting the current $1.3 billion state budget deficit and potential millions in new expenditures the bill would thrust upon local taxpayers. As Van Winkle stated, "This bill is a gross violation of our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms." In echoing his fellow commissioner, George Teal emphasized that the law would unlikely affect those who are intent on committing crimes but would, however, unfairly penalize law-abiding citizens. "Yet again, this is a gun law that those who commit crimes with semiautomatic weapons and extended magazines will ignore," said Commissioner George Teal, as per Douglas County, arguing that the law's impact on crime would be negligible.
At the heart of the resolution's opposition is a concern for constitutional rights, with Commissioner Abe Laydon framing the issue as a safeguard against governmental overreach. "The fundamental right to defend yourself is bipartisan and universal," Laydon told the meeting, as obtained by Douglas County, emphasizing the breadth and universal applicability of the right enshrined in the Second Amendment.
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly also voiced his opposition, having personally testified against the bill at the Colorado Capitol. Charged with enforcing the new restrictions, local law enforcement agencies are expected to take on additional administrative tasks under SB 25-03, including conducting background checks and fingerprinting without the promise of supplementary resources. "I testified at the Capitol with several Sheriffs to oppose SB3," Sheriff Weekly stated, as noted by Douglas County, indicating that the additional responsibilities foisted on his department, which would not come with additional staffing, would do little to deter the actions of criminals.
