City of Northglenn offers gun safe reimbursement program for residents
Resolution 63 was passed with an 8-1 vote by city council June 24.
By Megan Mitchell
YourHub Reporter
Posted: 09/18/2013 02:20:06 PM MDT
Updated: 09/18/2013 02:20:24 PM MDT
The city of Northglenn is implementing a gun safe reimbursement program for residents in an effort to promote public safety, but some community members have a problem using public funds for the rebates.
Resolution 63 was passed with an 8-1 vote by city council June 24. Northglenn councilman Gene Wieneke was the lone opposition vote.
"We collect tax money to provide governmental services," Wieneke said. "What the council did was take that tax money for all, and give part of it to private individuals to use in their own home."
The program offers up to 25 percent or $500 cash back to Northglenn residents who buy a gun safe that matches the safety requirements outlined by the city attorney. People who buy from a Northglenn business will receive 30 percent back, or up to $525.
Wieneke said it does not make sense to "provide private benefits that do not benefit the public as a whole."
Mayor Pro Tem Susan Clyne sponsored the resolution and defends its use of public money.
"We spend public funds for public safety," she said. "We hire police, we inspect
pawn shops and everything else, and to me (the program) is part of public safety; to protect kids and the general public from guns getting into the hands of people that shouldn't have them."
Wieneke isn't the only person who disagrees with the use of funds for the program. Robert Farrow, a gunsmith who works in Northglenn, said there are better uses for the money.
"I question public funding for the program and the fact it is coming from the police department," Farrow said. "I feel those funds can be used more effectively on educating the public and kids on firearm safety and additional resource officers at schools."
Financing for the program aside, Farrow, 52, said there is no way he would participate in the gun safe reimbursement program based on the city's creation of a list of gun safe owners, and the affidavit that all applicants must
complete and return to the police.
"I'm particularly concerned with the language used in the affidavit," Farrow said.
Item C on that form requires the applicant's permission to allow Northglenn police to enter the applicant's home one time to verify the existence and appropriateness of the gun safe.
"There's no sunset date on that," Farrow said.
He said that open-endedness leaves room for a Fourth Amendment violation, should the police drop in unexpectedly.
Commander Ron Osgood with the Northglenn Police Department said that clause is just an option that the police are reserving in case they need to verify the existence of the safe. He said it's still early in the program, and so far the approved applicants are meeting standard safety qualifications for their
gun safes and no home visits have been necessary.
Osgood said there are currently two residents who have been approved for the program, and several inquiries to approve gun safe models.
The gun safe reimbursement program is a one-time deal limited to one per household. The
application and affidavit can be found at
northglenn.org/gunsafe.
