BROOMFIELD, Colo. — The city of Broomfield introduced new gun control measures during a meeting on Monday. All nine proposed ordinances passed their first readings and will be heard again, for a second reading, at a meeting in January.
Gun rights group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) has threatened to file a lawsuit against the city for the proposed ordinances.
RMGO is the same group that took municipalities in Boulder County to court after they approved a ban this summer on so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
On Monday Broomfield City Council introduced the following ordinances related to firearms:
- Ban the sale and possession of rapid-fire trigger activators.
- Increase the age to purchase a rifle or shotgun to 21.
- Regulate the possession of "ghost guns" or non-serialized firearms.
- Require a 10-day waiting period prior to the sale of firearms and proof of education or training before buying a gun. A training class must include topics such as mental health resources, state and local laws, and safe handling techniques.
- Prohibit open carry of firearms in public places.
- Prohibit conceal carry of firearms in buildings owned or leased by the City and County of Broomfield.
- Firearm dealers must post signs and provide an educational notification when a sale occurs
The city of Boulder, the Town of Superior, the City of Louisville and Boulder County passed ordinances this summer banning so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. RMGO filed a lawsuit on 2nd Amendment grounds. All four communities are not enforcing these laws because of the open case.
Broomfield City Council heard public comments and discussed legal issues over the past few months before proposing these ordinances. Based on prior discussions and direction from the council, members didn't bring forward measures that would ban so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
Public comment began at 7 p.m. on Monday night and lasted for more than two hours. Time at the microphone came with mixed responses to the proposals in Broomfield.
"This is not well thought out," said one man. "Please don't pass any of this garbage."
"This is an issue that is incredibly important to me and I believe we need stronger laws to address gun carnage in our country," said one woman.
RMGO's lawsuit against the County of Boulder, the City of Boulder, Louisville and Superior doesn't target any ordinances similar to the ones Broomfield proposed on Monday night. It only focuses on so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
The lawsuits filed by RMGO this summer resulted in a temporary restraining order by a federal judge, halting the measure from being enforced. Since then the four lawsuits have been consolidated into one which continues to play out in the courts.
Those four communities did pass ordinances similar to the measures Broomfield is considering. Broomfield is also looking at a proposal that would not only require someone to wait 10 days, but also show competence with a gun. Under the proposed ordinance, someone would need to provide evidence of qualified experience, such as military service, or a training certificate from a firearm training class. The training class would cover information on mental health resources and include a pamphlet about mental health and suicide.
RMGO said they had to narrow their lawsuit in Boulder County, but the gun rights group believes the other ordinances in the county are unconstitutional too.
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