Colorado sheriffs plan lawsuit challenging state gun control laws

[theGinsue]

posted for your information

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22988195/colorado-sheriffs-planning-lawsuit-block-new-gun-laws

More than half of Colorado's elected sheriffs are planning to mount a legal challenge to the state's sweeping new gun restrictions.

The Denver Post reports that 37 of the state's 62 sheriffs will sue to overturn laws passed in March that set limits on ammunition magazines and expand background checks for firearms.

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke told the paper that the proposed lawsuit would argue the laws violate Second Amendment rights. He said the lawsuit would likely be filed within the next few weeks.

The group County Sheriffs of Colorado has opposed a ban on high-capacity magazines, and about a dozen Colorado sheriffs spoke against the new laws during President Obama's visit this week. The laws take effect July 1.

The group's board of directors decided against joining the lawsuit as a plaintiff, according to County Sheriffs' executive director, Chris Olson, the Post reported.

Cooke told the Post he anticipates more sheriffs will join the lawsuit, though some of his colleagues reportedly oppose the legal effort.

San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters told the paper he doesn't think the newly-passed laws will be effective but he won't be signing on to the lawsuit.

"I'm not going to sue anybody for anything. I understand the frustration but I wouldn't do that," Masters said.

In a letter to residents last week, Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver warned that the state's new gun laws are going to be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce and won't stop another mass shooting.
Weaver said ammunition magazines shouldn't be limited and said criminals will just steal them or buy them out-of-state. He said he won't disregard the new laws but also won't be "ordering gun magazine roundups."

[Robb]

I saw this on GunWire, and have my fingers crossed big time.

[Hound]

The courts are a great step towards reversing these laws. That does not mean we slow up on the Morse recall or voting out those that voted for the laws in 2014.

[hatidua]

Weaver said ammunition magazines shouldn't be limited and said criminals will just steal them or buy them out-of-state. He said he won't disregard the new laws but also won't be "ordering gun magazine roundups."

Well, in light of existing mags being grandfathered, I'm just all giddy about there not being any 'gun magazine roundups' being ordered.

[SA Friday]

Well, in light of existing mags being grandfathered, I'm just all giddy about there not being any 'gun magazine roundups' being ordered.

Weaver is a hypocrite and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw his fat ass. His stance of firearms rights is way far from stellar.

[aryntha]

So, I guess all we can do is hope on this one. If there's any way I can throw any support behind this - I don't know if the sheriffs need donations for it, or what. For sure, they'll have my vote going forward if I get the opportunity... I'm hoping Colorado someday goes back to 'normal'. And I'm willing to put in whatever legwork I can for that.

[centrarchidae]

So, I guess all we can do is hope on this one. If there's any way I can throw any support behind this - I don't know if the sheriffs need donations for it, or what. For sure, they'll have my vote going forward if I get the opportunity... I'm hoping Colorado someday goes back to 'normal'. And I'm willing to put in whatever legwork I can for that.

The Independence Institute is taking donations to support Kopel's and the Sheriffs' suit. I'm about 99% sure that donations to the II are tax-deductible.

[mikedubs]

So is this going to be simultaneous to the Independence Institute lawsuit concerning mag limits? I thought that the plaintiffs in the Inst. one are the sheriffs.

[Rabid]

So is this going to be simultaneous to the Independence Institute lawsuit concerning mag limits? I thought that the plaintiffs in the Inst. one are the sheriffs.

I believe these are one in the same.

The lawsuit would be handled by lawyer Dave Kopel, research director of the Independence Institute

[asmo]

I am curious as to what the challenge is actually going to be based on... along with grounds for standing.