Colorado lawmaker leaves loaded gun unattended in Capitol restroom
A gun belonging to state Rep. Don Wilson, R-Colorado, was discovered unattended in a state Capitol bathroom Tuesday, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
At 9:21 p.m., a janitor found a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun on a shelf inside a single-occupancy unisex restroom, according to a CSP news release. Troopers responded and took possession of the firearm at 9:26 p.m.
Capitol video footage showed Wilson exiting the restroom at 8:58 p.m., indicating the gun was unattended for 23 minutes before being discovered.
CSP returned the gun to Wilson that night after the investigation was completed and it was determined no state statutes were violated and no criminal charges were pending.
It is legal for people with Capitol credentials and access to carry a firearm inside the secure areas in compliance with Colorado gun laws. However, the incident occurred on the heels of a Colorado Senate bill under consideration to prohibit firearms in sensitive spaces.
The bill, SB24-131, would prohibit a person from carrying a firearm, openly or concealed, on school property, on public transportation and in government buildings.
"I want to be clear that I take full and complete accountability for the incident,” Wilson said in a statement on X. “I made a mistake and am very sorry. I take firearm safety very seriously. This is a humbling experience, and I will reaffirm my commitment to responsible handling procedures.”
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Democratic state Rep. Julie McCluskie said in a news release that the situation emphasizes the need for firearm prohibition legislation.
"The consequences of leaving a firearm unattended in a public space could be very serious," McCluskie said. "This should not have happened and cannot happen again, and this is why our caucus is pursuing legislation to prohibit carrying firearms in the Capitol."
Additional gun safety measures under consideration
HB24-1348 would require firearms in unattended vehicles to be stored in locked containers to reduce thefts. The bill would also require vehicle safe storage information to be published on the Office of Suicide Prevention’s website and displayed at gun stores.
HB24-1174 would require handgun training classes to be held in-person and include training on safe handling of firearms and ammunition, safe storage of firearms and child safety, safe firearm shooting fundamentals, federal and state firearm laws, state laws related to the use of deadly force for self-defense, interacting with law enforcement who are responding to emergencies, and techniques for conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado lawmaker leaves loaded gun unattended in Capitol restroom
