All constitutionally guaranteed rights are subject to reasonable regulation: Freedom of speech is limited by libel and slander laws; freedom of assembly is limited by fire codes; and people with a mental or physical illness may be detained against their will if they pose a risk to themselves or others.
Gun laws are no different, and the Montezuma County commissioners are mistaken in their wish to make our county exempt from Colorado House Bill 1177. This bill would provide only the same sort of reasonable regulation that is in place for all other rights. It would apply only to people whom a judge rules may pose a “significant risk to self or others by having a firearm” in their possession. This would automatically exclude the vast majority of people.
In 2014, four people in the U.S. were diagnosed with Ebola hemorrhagic fever; this was considered a national health emergency. In 2018, nearly 40,000 U.S. citizens died from gun violence; many in our society somehow do not see this as a problem.
It is time for reasonable gun regulation. Colorado HB 1177 is a step in the right direction.
Garrett Riggs
Cortez
