Lockboxes could be required for guns in cars under new proposal, opponents say ‘too far’
DENVER (KDVR) — Lawmakers at the Capitol want you to lock your Glock, even if it is in your car.
A new proposal calling for firearms to be stored safely inside cars cleared a big hurdle Friday.
Although Republicans were able to get some changes made to it, some said the bill still goes too far.
Safe storage for guns is already law in Colorado when it comes to keeping your guns safe at home with kids. Lawmakers are now proposing that you keep your gun safe in your car, no matter who is around.
Representatives Lorena Garcia and Elizabeth Velasco are sponsoring a bill calling for gun owners to store their guns in a hard-side, locked container and out of plain sight or in a trunk when the gun is inside of a car.
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“The majority of homicides and assaults with guns are happening with illegal weapons and these illegal weapons come about largely because they are stolen. And so when we can create a deterrent of not making a weapon sitting on a car seat or in a vehicle that’s unattended so obvious, we’re able to bring down that rate,” Garcia said.
“Whenever a vehicle is unattended a firearm should be cased and out of sight. What we are trying to do is prevent people’s property from being stolen. We know that many gun owners are responsible gun owners and we want to make sure we are incentivizing that behavior,” Velasco said.
Opponents feel this bill does the opposite.
“Another reason why I’m going to be a no on this is because now that’s one more expense, one more process, one more step that folks who are trying comply with the law have to accomplish,” said Representative Gabe Evans.
If gun owners are caught failing to comply, they could be hit with a fine of up to $500, unless they report the theft to police. House Republicans like Evans were able to get six amendments added to the measure. One of the amendments allows long guns to be kept in a soft container.
Other exceptions were detailed for farmers and ranchers, as well as folks living with disabilities. Several attempts to exempt certain parts of the state were shot down. Evans said even with the changes, the bill goes too far.
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“There were several amendments that we got onto that bill. Unfortunately, the big issue for me still remains that we are penalizing law-abiding citizens with a higher fine than we are penalizing folks that literally steal the firearm. And unfortunately, weren’t able to find any traction there so folks that legally own a firearm can have it stolen so folks that legally own a firearm and have it stolen can be penalized now with a higher fine than folks who stole the firearm,” Evans said.
The bill still has one final vote in the House. If that clears, it heads to the state Senate to repeat the legislative process in that chamber.
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