The state of Colorado allows residents, by statute, to carry concealed firearms in public. As one of 45 states with firearm-friendly laws, Colorado Revised Statute 18-12-203 presents residents of Colorado with criteria for concealed carry, and entrusts each county sheriff to administer the legal process to issue permits. A February 2017 National Rifle Association media release states at least 11 states have passed laws allowing the concealed carry of firearms without a permit. Another 16 states have introduced legislation to do the same. Colorado is one of 42 states where specific requirements must be met to receive a permit authorizing the concealed carry of a firearm while in public.This year, State Bill 17-116, which allows ìa law-abiding person to carry a concealed handgun without a permitî was introduced in the Colorado State Senate, and it passed. When presented to the Colorado House Committee on State, Veterans and Military Affairs, in April, it was placed in a ìPostpone Indefinitelyî status.The El Paso County Sheriffís Office administers the countyís concealed carry program, and Sheriff Bill Elder is the issuer of the permits, which cost $112.50. The sheriffís office fee is $60, and $52.50 is the fee paid to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to conduct the background check.Coordinator Laurie Thomas, of the permit office, said, ìBy statute, the sheriffís office could charge $100 for the permit fee instead of $60.î The sheriff wants to keep the permit affordable for those who qualify to receive one. The population of El Paso County, as of the 2015 U.S. Census Bureau, was 674,471 people. ìThere are currently 44,981 active permits in the county,î Thomas said.ìIf you break that down, you get just over 6-1/2 percent of the county legally carrying a firearm concealed.ìDefinitely more men than women come in for a permit, although the number of female applicants has steadily increased over the last five years. We had a huge increase in applicants after the active shooter incidents in Colorado Springs.îThere are no expected changes for the El Paso County Sheriffís Office Concealed Carry Program. Elder will maintain the program requirements and fees ìas isî for the foreseeable future, Thomas said.As stated in Colorado Revised Statute 18-12-214, the law authorizes a permit holder to carry a concealed handgun in all areas of the state except those expressly prohibited by the state and federal law (e.g., federal courthouses and other federally owned facilities); public elementary, middle or high schools; and public buildings with permanent security personnel and electronic weapons screening stations at each public entrance (e.g., state courthouses and the State Capitol Building). Weapons at school are allowed, if the handgun remains in a vehicle. Also, when the permittee is not in the vehicle, the handgun must be kept in a compartment and the vehicle must be locked.Denver International Airport has a strict weapons policy. DIA has signs postedat the entrance to the terminal, stating the following: ìIt is a FELONY OFFENSE for any person without legal authority to bring a loaded firearm or explosive or incendiary device into the airport or aboard a commercial aircraft. Violators may be sentenced to imprisonment for five years, or a fine of $10,000, or both.îOther public establishments ban weapons as well. According to a December 2015 Colorado Springs Gazette article, ìStarbucks, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s, Applebee’s, Chili’s Grill and Bar, Sonic Drive-In and Target also request that customers no longer openly carry firearms on their property. Cinemark only allows law enforcement officers to carry legal firearms in its theaters. Pikes Peak Library District banned open carry in 2003.îBeyond the legalities of whether to carry a firearm openly or concealed, there is an even more basic question to answer, ìWhy carry a gun at all?î The answer could be a matter of profession, personal choice, location or fear that compels one to carry a firearm. There are many articles concerning this question and the answers boil down to constitutional right; protection of self and family; preparedness; and deterrence.To carry a firearm as a civilian and not a member of law enforcement takes a certain individual, said retired Army Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. He divided people into three main categories: sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. “Most of the people in our society are sheep,î Grossman said. ìThey are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. Then, there are the wolves, and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. Lastly, there are sheepdogs. I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. There are evil men in this world, and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.îTo inquire and apply for a concealed handgun permit, contact the El Paso County Sheriffís Office at 719-520-7249 or email chp@elpasoco.com. Visit https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com/services/concealed-handgun-permit for more information.Next month: Pros and cons of concealed carry weapons.
