Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith: Debate does little to solve problem
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Justin Smith: Colorado gun debate does little to solve problem
Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith says the Legislature's current focus is a distraction from finding feasible solutions
By Jessica Maher Reporter-Herald Staff Writerreporterherald.com
Posted: 02/27/2013 07:37:07 PM MST
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/liv...RHAGUN_100.jpgLarimer County Sheriff Justin Smith
Because of what he calls "glaring loopholes," Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith does not believe anything that's come out of the state Legislature's gun law debate so far would be successful in keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.
One of those loopholes, according to Smith, is the lack of a state database for convicted felons.
In an article that appeared in Wednesday's edition, the Reporter-Herald erroneously stated that Smith supports statewide gun registration in order to identify those who are prohibited to have weapons. Smith said Thursday that such a registration process would do nothing to help law enforcement take illegal guns off the street, but a statewide database for convicted felons would.
"What I've articulated to the Legislature is, 'why won't you focus on building that system?'" Smith said.
Currently, when an officer stops a person in possession of a weapon, there is nearly immediate access to information such as active warrants and license revocations. But it can sometimes take days in a multi-step process to determine if the person is a convicted felon, banned from state and federal law from possessing a firearm.
"It would be complicated and it wouldn't be cheap," Smith said. "None of it is going to happen overnight but we've got to come together on this."
Guns and bulletsAs gun bills approved by the state House begin to hit the Senate floor, Smith plans to have a presence in the capitol to oppose proposed new gun laws. He has called the bills "knee-jerk" reactions to the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.
"I'd rather do it right than do it fast," he said.
The bills that have been approved in the House have a focus on guns and the number of bullets, Smith said, a distraction from the real problems.
"I don't see the gun as the threat; it's the person," he said.
A bill that would limit ammunition magazines to 15 rounds has been touted as an enhancement of public safety, with advocates pointing to recent mass shootings where high-capacity magazines were used.
Law enforcement officers carry high capacity magazines because in a shooting situation -- especially with multiple assailants -- they need them. Smith believes the same right should be afforded to law-abiding citizens.
"A person in self defense would be very limited," he said.
Gov. John Hickenlooper has cited universal background checks as a top-priority for strengthening the state's gun laws, expanding background checks for individual, private sales of firearms. But Smith thinks it would operate something like an honor system, where law-abiding citizens would comply and criminals would not.
The sheriff also thinks the expanded background checks would create a path to firearm registration, which he sees as not only unenforceable but a clear violation of the Second Amendment.
"It's impossible to do and it's a dangerous thing," Smith said.
The state House has also given initial approval to a bill that bans concealed weapons on college campuses. A former adjunct professor at Colorado State University, Smith said he finds the bill distressing and is concerned about domestic violence victims who would be barred from carrying weapons on campus. He sees it as another example of the honor system, with signs against weapons put in the place of metal detectors and guards.
Missing Pieces
In addition to the database for convicted felons, Smith believes a key piece missing from proposed gun legislation relates to mental health issues. He'd like to see more funding for mental health services in addition to a statewide database to act as a communication tool from psychologists to law enforcement officials when a person has been deemed dangerously unstable.
"I believe the bills that are out there are bills that distract us from the true issue of the violence," Smith said.
While the County Sheriffs of Colorado have urged state legislators to consider their positions, as laid out in a position paper, Smith said he's frustrated that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
"We're not dealing with the real pieces and there has been no desire from the majority to do that," he said.
Jessica Maher can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 516, or maherj@reporter-herald.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JessicaMaherRH.
