Most of the new and proposed gun control ordinances enacted by local governments will be enforced by city and county attorney offices because those new measures are misdemeanors. District Attorney Michael Dougherty and his prosecutors handle violations of state laws.
Still, Dougherty considers reducing gun violence a priority and he has taken other measures to reduce the harm caused by guns, DA spokeswoman Shannon Carbone said via email this month.
Those efforts include joining other prosecutors in pressing President Joe Biden to reduce gun violence and suicides. The DA’s office has also partnered with other law enforcement agencies on promoting safe gun storage, Carbone said.
“Our office is strongly committed to reducing gun violence,” Carbone said.
Dougherty’s prosecutors have also gone to court to pursue convictions for unlawful gun possession. Since 2001, there have been 2,403 cases filed in which there is a charge related to the possession of a gun, Carbone said.
On the most serious charge of murder, there have been 47 murder cases filed during that same time period which involved a firearm, Carbone said.
The city of Longmont is considering a slate of measures aimed at gun control including enacting a 10-day waiting period before someone can purchase a firearm. The Boulder County Commissioners also are scheduled to hold a public hearing on Aug. 2, on their own set of proposed gun measures.
The 2021 State Legislature approved a measure to allow cities and counties to enact their own gun laws, a move cheered by Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy.
Levy, in a news release, said there have already been 295 mass shootings in the United States. “But sadly, gun violence is bigger than mass shootings, and includes injuries and deaths every day for domestic violence and suicide — both of which are more deadly when a firearm is used,” Levy states. “We need to do everything we can to protect Boulder County residents from gun violence.”
Dougherty joined a non-partisan coalition of 46 prosecutors in sending a letter of recommendations to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to reduce gun violence and suicides. The four-part blueprint, containing a broad range of common-sense gun safety and violence prevention measures, urges executive and congressional action to make the public safer, Carbone said.
The letter asks Biden to strengthen background checks, close gun possession loopholes and increase accountability for illegal gun sales.
The DA’s office also partnered with law enforcement agencies on safe gun storage, prompted by an increase in motor vehicle trespasses and home burglaries, Carbone said.
The “Safe Gun Storage Initiative” sought to remind firearm owners to safely secure their weapons, including by using locked storage devices in cars and homes. Public service announcements were created, which can be viewed here.
Sheriff Joe Pelle and the police chiefs for Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, University of Colorado — Boulder, and Nederland all joined in support of our Safe Gun Storage Initiative, part of a collaborative effort with District Attorneys and law enforcement from around Colorado, Carbone said.
Dougherty also backs communities who have voted for stricter gun laws. “...Dougherty strongly supports local communities taking action to enact local gun laws,” she said. “The change in state law allows local communities to do so.”
