UPDATE: Castle Rock Town Commisioners in uproar over Open Carry

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by: Zappatero

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

(UPDATE: Rocky Mountain Gun Owners in the mix – seems they want to guarantee Castle Rock's crime rate increases. See below for Post's reference to CR's crimes stats.)

Many, if not all, of the planning commissioners for the town of Castle Rock, Colorado may quit their jobs after the town council voted on Tuesday to allow guns to be openly carried in public buildings and parks.

Last week, Castle Rock Planning Commission acting chair Michael Fronczak notified the town clerk’s office that “many on the Commission have expressed that they would feel unsafe serving as a Commissioner if open carry were permitted.”

“It is likely that many, if not all, members of the Planning Commission would resign because of the increased possibility for intimidation and/or violence,” Fronczak wrote.

…

A survey of town employees found that about 95 percent did not want the ban repealed, and on Sept. 5, Castle Rock’s public safety commission voted to recommend against repeal.

However, the council moved forward with plans for repeal. After a heated hearing on Tuesday night, the council voted 4-3 in favor of repealing the open-carry ban.

The proof that this is not a compelling public safety issue is when so many of your public safety people recommend against such a callous move.

“If you, Town Council, repeal the existing ban, I as a volunteer serving on the planning commission will resign,” Planning Committee member Barbara Dash told the council on Tuesday night.

The crime rate in Castle Rock is below the average in Colorado, and the nation, too. Way below.

For anyone who still thinks Castle Rock needs more guns within its town limits should not forget the presence of Castle Rock Police, Douglas County Sheriff, and Colorado State Patrol officers in the hundreds….

17 thoughts on “UPDATE: Castle Rock Town Commisioners in uproar over Open Carry”

Phoenix Rising says:

January 23, 2014 at 10:28 am

Important note, though probably only a speedbump on the way to GUNZ!!! – this was only a first reading vote, so there is still a chance.

Given the reported reaction among the open carry supporters in the room, they like the idea of their government being afraid (enough that they resign), so don't expect much sympathy for the appointed (and volunteer) planning commission members who have to make often unpopular decisions while facing those who lost in the decision-making process.

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Diogenesdemar says:

January 23, 2014 at 10:37 am

Thank you, Zap!! On a related issue (seriously):

Help Wanted: Experienced political activist/agitator with good working knowledge of all applicable Colorado laws and procedures pertaining to the petition process as it relates to citizen referendums, and Councilmember recalls, to advise and answer questions for a small group of pissed off and dedicated political novices (mostly soccer moms and dads) in the Castle Rock area.

Salary will likely consist of a beer or two — but, really good ones — and a bit of undying gratitude.

Interested parties can apply to my email address:

(my screen name) – at – hotmail dot com

and I will pass your information on to those interested parties.

We are an EOE, with no chance for advancement.

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Urban Snowshoer says:

January 23, 2014 at 11:16 am

It’s hard to fault the commissioners here—people get weird at public meetings and adding guns into the mix isn't going to make a "torches and pitchforks" meeting any better.

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DaftPunk says:

January 23, 2014 at 12:38 pm

I'd never want to spend my money in any state that has enacted retrograde conservative laws (MO, TX, etc…) and would liekly have to extend that to Castle Rock if they went this route.

No Elephant Rock bike ride then…

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1. BlueCat says:
  
  January 23, 2014 at 1:50 pm
  
  Wouldn't put a dent in my lifestyle. Can't think of any reason to go to Castle Rock anyway. Nothing in it interests me.
  
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  1. Diogenesdemar says:
    
    January 23, 2014 at 2:46 pm
    
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2. Diogenesdemar says:
  
  January 23, 2014 at 2:43 pm
  
  Welcome to Retrograde, Colorado . . .
  
  (makes a great town name, huh?)
  
  I say that, because it's the Colorado Constitution that permits open carry — throughout the state.
  
  It's only prohibited in those municipalities that have designated prohibited areas within them. Most municipalities haven't addressed these issues — for example, Parker is open carry everywhere. Castle Rock was open carry everywhere until 2003 when the town banned that practice in a few selected public municipal buildings and parks. That is the ban that is in the process of being repealed. Otherwise, in Castle Rock, just as in most other Colorado communities, open carry is and has been allowed on the streets and in public areas.
  
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  1. mamajama55 says:
    
    January 23, 2014 at 8:04 pm
    
    Dio, one does have to have a permit for open carry in CO, right? I'm too tired tonight to research it, but I believe that's true.
    
    I read, maybe in Zap's last post, that this negates school's "gun free zone". With one rule change, Mayor Donohue has erased protections for all of those Douglas County schools. So now if an 18 year old wants to pack heat, or an adult wants to intimidate in a school, it will be allowed. What could possibly go wrong?
    
    I let some of my FB friends in "Moms Demand Gun Sense" know about the CR insanity, so you may hear from them.
    
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    1. Diogenesdemar says:
      
      January 23, 2014 at 8:55 pm
      
      Nope. Any one who can legally own or possess a firearm can legally open carry it in those places that that is not prohibited.
      
      Colorado has a permit for concealed carry of a handgun (now known as CHP, fka or also commonly known as CCW). You have to have that permit to legally concealed carry.
      
      There are a few more places in many municipalities that you can concealed-carry, if also not prohibited. For instance, in Castle Rock you can already concealed carry a hand gun almost everywhere including the parks and town municipal buildings. That's not good enough for the nutters, they "need" everyone who can legally own or possess a gun to be able to openly carry that too.
      
      And, oh btw, by "gun" that means all legal guns — not just pistols and handguns, but shotguns and the whole gamut of rifles out there!!!
      
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  2. Diogenesdemar says:
    
    January 23, 2014 at 9:01 pm
    
    As to the 1,000 foot federal "gun free school zone," that still exists — but it's only enforced by federal law enforcement, FBI, Federal Marshall's, etc. Unless a municipality also includes this enforcement in their local municipal code, then those local law enforcement agencies — police and county sheriffs — don't enforce the federal GFSZ.
    
    Most Colorado municipalities have not incorporated GFSZ enforcement into their municipal statutes.
    
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Diogenesdemar says:

January 23, 2014 at 9:05 pm

Thanks. We can use all the moms (and dads) help we can get. Our local group has a website at: www.norepealcastlerock.com

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skeptical citizen says:

January 23, 2014 at 10:22 pm

I thought the Second Amendment stated "well-regulated" militia, not "unregulated" as these gun-nutters wish.

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1. Urban Snowshoer says:
  
  January 24, 2014 at 9:24 am
  
  The Second Amendment, as it is written, can be read a number of different ways. The recent Supreme Court cases seem to be trending toward the individual rights part, though the court will eventually have to draw a line somewhere–no right or amendment has ever interpreted to be absolute, and I doubt the second amendment would be any different.
  
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mamajama55 says:

January 24, 2014 at 4:40 pm

Littwin's take on the Castle Rock Carry drama is excellent.

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Zappatero says:

January 24, 2014 at 7:38 pm

Can you Open Carry at the Outlets Mall, where many tourists and others with money to spend go to spend money? And how will all these customers react to the local yahooos with their big, bad pistolas?

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1. Diogenesdemar says:
  
  January 24, 2014 at 9:05 pm
  
  I'm not sure — the Castle Rock ordinance limiting open carry only applies to selected Town owned municipal buildings and parks.
  
  Because the outlets are private property, it would be up to those property owners as to whether they do, or don't allow firearms. (Just like you can allow guns to be carried in your home, or not.)
  
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mamajama55 says:

February 14, 2014 at 11:08 am

A Wisconsin "open carry" activist in prison orange after he threatened someone (Duh! it's what these people live for)….

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