The Boulder County Commissioners today unanimously approved moving forward with gun control measures for unincorporated areas of the county, citing their duty as public officials to do what they could to reduce gun violence.
“This entire package is urgently needed,” Commissioner Vice-Chair Claire Levy said. “Some may say Boulder County can’t solve the problem. It’s incumbent on us as elected officials to do everything in our power to protect that public safety. Even if the state or the federal government aren’t able to move forward.”
Commissioner Matt Jones cited the Fourth of July mass shooting in a Chicago suburb as another example that gun control steps have to be taken. “The mass shooting on July Fourth shows that these measures are needed. I hope others around the country do the same.”
The proposed ordinances include a ban on assault weapons and the possession of unserialized and untraceable firearms — or ghost guns — that can be brought online and assembled at home. The ordinances also include an age-based restriction, a waiting period for purchases of a firearm and restrictions on carrying firearms in sensitive public areas.
Tuesday’s vote was on first reading and only moved the ordinances forward for a public hearing and formal vote on Aug. 2.
Written comments should be submitted online by July 31. Visit the county’s website for details and links to the draft ordinances.
The proposed local ordinances are:
Ordinance 2022-2 An Ordinance Prohibiting the Purchase of Firearms by Anyone Under the Age of Twenty-One
Ordinance 2022-3 An Ordinance Requiring a Waiting Period Prior to the Sale of Firearms; and Setting Forth Related Details
Ordinance 2022-4 An Ordinance Prohibiting the Carrying of Firearms in Sensitive Public Places
Ordinance 2022-5 An Ordinance Prohibiting the sale and purchase of Assault Weapons, Large Capacity Magazines, and Trigger Activators
Ordinance 2022-6 An Ordinance to Regulate the Possession of Unfinished Frames and Receivers, and Unserialized Firearms
