WTK: Open carry and ID in CO

[Byte Stryke]

Now, on to some other points. First, I've open carried in Thornton before. I was contacted by an off duty officer. He was pretty young, but he didn't harass me or anything. He did strongly suggest that I not continue to open carry though.

So I am a tad Concerned here as this conflicts with What I had been told.
I know that all public city property(Parks, openspace, recreational areas and buildings) in Northglenn and Thornton is CCW only if at all.
I had not been told that open carry was a violation city wide... which to say the least is a shock since I do.

do you have a reference on this?

[jim02]

My law book states this:

4 Ways to Search a Vehicle
1. Consent
2. Probable Cause
3. Impound Inventory
4. Search Incident to Arrest

Additional Ways
5. Plain View
6. Exigency
7. Search Incident to Detainment
8. Search Warrant

#4 was recently successfully challenged in court and is in the process of appeal to the Supreme Court. We'll have to see if the Supremes are willing to hear the case.

My book states a few diffrent things.
Amendment II
Amendment IV
Amendmemt V
Amendment VI
All found in The Constitution of the United States which are the supreme law of the land, all laws in violation of these rights are not lawfull and are not of my concern.

Leo's have a hard job to do and if they want my support they need to not look for the easy way and lay excuses on me while they try to trample my rights.

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. " Benjamin Franklin

[Irving]

No. I was just open carrying at the Chipotle on 120th and Washington-ish. Under cover approached me and asked who I worked for (he knew it was no one). I told him "No one" and he went on to tell me that it was legal, and he wasn't trying to harass me or going to do anything about it, just wanted to give me a heads up that when you open carry, you run the risk of being contacted by PD every time.

[jim02]

Thornton Rec center on 116 and Colorado has a sign, no open carry, says nothing about CCW and I have seen nothing stating CCW is not allowed on city property anywhere, only open carry.

[ronaldrwl]

No. I was just open carrying at the Chipotle on 120th and Washington-ish. Under cover approached me and asked who I worked for (he knew it was no one). I told him "No one" and he went on to tell me that it was legal, and he wasn't trying to harass me or going to do anything about it, just wanted to give me a heads up that when you open carry, you run the risk of being contacted by PD every time.

Wow Stuart. That takes some guts. Any reason you did it?

[Irving]

Encouragement from other jerks behind key boards basically.

It was in a simple Uncle Mike's nylon holster with just a buckle strap across the top too. Not exactly something that I'd recommend open carrying in.

The only time I've heard of open carry being restricted anywhere except Denver and that one ski town, is on here. I don't think that Arvada, Lakewood, or Thornton have any restrictions except for at public parts and buildings and stuff.

[jim02]

I would gladly go on record as stating that I firmly believe that the Denver and Arvada ordinances against open carry and possession of a firearm for personal defense is in direct contradiction of the 2nd Amendment.
So the Initial arrest was, in my opinion, unconstitutional.
When a Judge is sworn in they swear or affirm to uphold and protect/defend that same Constitution. These things are pretty much undeniable fact.

beyond that it gets crazy and fuzzy political this, Corruption that...

As far as the militias, please do not stereotype as not all militias are nutcases preparing to overthrow the government by force, just as not all Law officers punk teenage kids for their pot and are on the M-13 Payroll

Thank you

I 2nd this and will add, dont forget if it were not for the militias we would have been subjects of king george. We the people are the militia.

The leo's and the southern poverty law center have seem to forgotten this fact and like to cast the term militia in with all the nazi's and other anti-US radical groups. They describe their Intelligece Report as "It is the nation's preeminent periodical monitoring the radical right in the U.S." what about the radical left.

[Byte Stryke]

No. I was just open carrying at the Chipotle on 120th and Washington-ish. Under cover approached me and asked who I worked for (he knew it was no one). I told him "No one" and he went on to tell me that it was legal, and he wasn't trying to harass me or going to do anything about it, just wanted to give me a heads up that when you open carry, you run the risk of being contacted by PD every time.

That's fine... and as long as they are only doing their jobs its all good.

I've been contacted by Aurora PD when visiting my Kid, etc.. The Officer seemed like a pleasant enough Guy, wasn't trying to be a dick. He asked me why I Open-Carried and I told him. "I Carry a Ruger because carrying around a cop is just silly. Besides, They don't make a holster that fits you guys. "
He laughed He asked why I didnt have a CCW I told him. "I don't believe in the Taxation of rights, you don't have to pay to vote, why do I have to pay to carry a gun?" he agreed.. sorta.

I concede that Most police officers aren't bad guys. They are out there trying to do something they believe in, then the rest fuck it up for them.

I am REALLY put off by the $2-300 it takes to get a CCW.
seriously some CCW Classes are nothing short of a scam.

scrape the cash together I need to get my class from TheInternet

[OneGuy67]

#5 here worries me. I have a feeling that if asked to step out of my car, and I refused a search of my vehicle, but there was a handgun laying in plain view on the back seat of my vehicle, that my window would be broken, my car would be searched, and I may even get tazed. Why though? Having a gun on your seat in plain view isn't illegal. I still bet my car would get searched without my consent though.

State statute allows you to have a firearm in your vehicle "while traveling", but does not define what exactly that is. Does that mean traveling from Grand Junction to Denver, or from your house to the supermarket? There have been municipalities that have outlawed firearms in vehicles, but all have been declared null and void as they were written prior to March 18, 2003. This was when the new gun laws went into place. Denver had the most restrictive gun laws prior to that time and they were put in place to deal with their gang problems in the 90's. Most officers in the surrounding cities around Denver might not be aware that Denver doesn't have those laws anymore and usually tell people what the safest manner of dealing with all officers, including Denver, as most people don't seem to understand that each city and county are different from each other and there are different ordinances. Most people do not have a basic understanding of municipal law, municipal, county, and state government and most officers tire of trying to continually educate an ignorant population.

So, to answer your question. If you had a gun in your vehicle, a quick check of your criminal history would answer whether or not you should have it in your possession. A positive identification will aid that endeavor. If you were clean, there wouldn't be a need to continue the contact. I'm sure you still would get a lecture and sent on your way. The officer may want to look at the firearm so ensure it had a serial number, but without an articulable reason, that shouldn't expand if you refuse politely. Although, most officers are under the general impression that if you don't have anything to hide, then why drag out the encounter?

On the other hand, when I had first bought my first gun, I asked every cop I ran into if I could legally carry the gun in my car. I was in Lakewood and approached some officers while they were having lunch at the Brother's Barbeque and asked them if I could carry a gun in the car. The male officer said I should have it unloaded, locked up, and in my trunk. The female officer told me that if I had it any where but locked up and unloaded and in the trunk that there was going to be trouble. My gun rights balls hadn't dropped yet, so I didn't tell her that she was flat out wrong at the time. However, the male officer looked at her and said, "And why is that?" after she gave me that line of bull. I excused myself and let them finish their lunch. I used to see her driving around all the time when I still lived in Lakewood too. I hope her partner correcter her.

Answer above.

I will try to answer the next few people's comments, but I am growing tired of the questions. I don't have all the answers, nor do any of the officers, but this is what we deal with every day from the public, both as questions and as legal issues we have to maneuver through.

[Irving]

Of course you get tired of answering questions that you deal with every day. However, in this forum (not the online forum, the other definition), you don't need to explain your fatigue because you offered your expertise on your own. Everyone, in every occupation, generally knows much more about their occupation than the general public. Just because you deal with the same stuff every day, and it became mundane and boring to you long ago, doesn't mean that everyone else isn't brand new to the party. Remembering that, and acting accordingly is a key part of customer service and you've been doing a fine job thus far.