Colorado Springs Criminal Law Blog

According to The Denver Channel, a recent bill introduced to the Colorado House Judiciary Committee may change the process Colorado residents must go through before obtaining a concealed weapons permit.

House Bill 1205 was introduced by State Representative Chris Holbert, who wants to get rid of the permit process altogether. Holbert believes that carrying a gun is not a privilege; it is a constitutional right and not something a person should be required to apply for, particularly if they do not have a previous criminal background.

Many gun owners support the proposed bill, but others oppose it, saying the concealed weapons permit process is likely in the best interest of the public. Currently, the bill is in the House Judiciary Committee for review.

Under Colorado law, to obtain a concealed weapons permit, certain criterion must be met. For example, a person must be a Colorado resident, at least 21-years-old, not an “unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance,” does not have a restraining order against them at the time the application is submitted, and more. During the application process, an applicant must be fingerprinted, undergo both a state and national criminal history check, have a full-frontal view photograph in color of their head taken within 30 days of when the application is submitted, and demonstrate competence with a handgun. An individual can submit a training certificate from a “handgun training class” taken within 10 years of when the application is submitted.

Many people facing weapons violation charges in Colorado own handguns but did not realize they were breaking the law. For example, if you legally owned a handgun, and were threatened by someone with bodily harm, and began carrying the gun with you before obtaining a permit, you could face a concealed weapon violation charge.

Colorado gun laws are very complex, which is why it may be in your best interest to seek the counsel of a Colorado Springs gun crime defense attorney if you have been charged with a weapons offense. Timothy Bussey is a highly skilled lawyer at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. and has spent many years successfully defending the rights of gun owners who have been charged with a crime in Colorado. Call Mr. Bussey at 719-475-2555 to schedule a free consultation today.

The computer database Colorado police use to keep track of concealed gun permits is full of errors and incomplete information, according to a recent article in The Denver Post. A state audit of the database concluded that its contents are so inaccurate that law enforcement officers should not rely on the database’s information.

The audit found several glaring errors and omissions. For instance, 16,000 permits do not appear in the database because the Colorado counties that issued them never reported the permits to the Colorado Crime Information Center.

Of the permits that are included in the database, 2,000 are duplicates, with one entry showing a valid permit and the other showing a revoked permit for the same gun owner. Dozens of records say a permit won’t expire for 40, 50, or even 100 years, even though Colorado gun permits are only good for five years.

Within the gun-permit database, each entry consists of several different computer “pages.” Many entries contain conflicting information, such as saying on the first page that a concealed-gun permit was issued, but saying on a later page the permit was denied. This conflicting information may mislead police, who may not click past the first screen, which may result in police acting on mistaken beliefs, such as arresting someone who has a valid concealed-gun permit, although the police believe the person does not have a permit.

If you have been charged with a weapon or gun violation in Colorado, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who will get to the bottom of the charges being held against you. The experienced Colorado Springs gun crime defense lawyers at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. will examine your case thoroughly and fight for the best possible outcome. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call us today at 719-475-2555.

On March 15, 2010, police arrested two men on drug and weapons related charges in Colorado Springs. According to an article from the Colorado Connection, the first arrest occurred at the Conoco Gas Station on North Nevada Avenue after the suspect allegedly sold marijuana to an undercover detective. The 21-year-old was arrested shortly thereafter and was found to be carrying a loaded, semi-automatic handgun. This gave police probable cause to search the man’s home where another suspect was discovered.

Police confronted the second suspect, who was later taken into custody on an active warrant for the charge of attempted first-degree murder. At the time of arrest, the second suspect also possessed a loaded handgun and had resisted arrest, which was later added to his charges. The first man arrested was charged with distribution of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon.

According to authorities, a third handgun was recovered during the investigation along with eleven pounds of marijuana, 27 grams of psychotropic mushrooms and $600 in cash. Both suspects were booked into the Criminal Justice Center, pending their respective trial dates.

Continue reading "Two Men Charged with Possession of Drugs and Weapons" »

A 16-year-old showed up at Eaglecrest High School on Friday morning armed with two knives and a BB gun, officials said. The boy, who had been expelled a year ago, had ridden an RTD bus with three students and showed them the BB gun. The students got off the bus at the high school and went into the cafeteria. The boy came in behind them.

The 16-year-old boy was detained in the school's cafeteria almost immediately after he arrived on campus, district officials said.

"He didn't get very far in the school, and he wasn't wandering about," said Tustin Amole, spokeswoman for the Cherry Creek School District.

The students notified school security at 7:30 a.m. that the teen was on campus and that he was seen "with what they perceived was a handgun in his waistband," according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office.

The former student had two knives with 4-inch blades as well as the BB gun. He told deputies he had "a real gun at home," the sheriff's office said.

Regardless of the criminal charges you face, or your criminal history, you want an experienced, aggressive weapons charge attorney in Colorado Springs to defend you to protect your full rights and work toward the best possible outcome.

At The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we take pride in offering our clients experienced, professional criminal law services with personalized service. Contact a Colorado Springs criminal defense lawyer at our firm today for your free initial consultation.