Happy Independence Day! Here at the O’Malley Law Office, we’re extremely grateful for the freedom we enjoy in this country. We fight daily for the rights and freedoms of people who have been charged with crimes in Larimer, Jackson, and Boulder County. We are constantly faced with reminders that many of our rights and freedoms are slowly being taken away by our government – both at the state and federal level. One such right is the right to bear arms.
Gun Rights are Infringed in Colorado
Our government likes to pick and choose which rights are valued. One right which is constantly held in question is the right to bear arms, as protected by the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Colorado Constitution Article II, Section 3. Here in Colorado, certain laws have been put into effect which infringe this right. Unfortunately, the only people who are harmed are the people who wish to protect themselves.
Limits on Magazines
One such law is the magazine limits law, which makes it illegal to purchase, transfer, or transport a magazine for a gun which holds more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Many people argue this will stop mass shootings from occurring. Unfortunately, it will only stop good people from protecting themselves and their families adequately. As Thomas Jefferson quoted, “the laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”
[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”100%”]The laws that forbid the carrying of arms…disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.[/pullquote]Gun Rights Taken Away
Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender is a crime in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. It is charged when a person who has a felony conviction on their record is found in possession of a firearm. At first glance, many people think this is a good idea. But, a closer look at our Constitution doesn’t mention any limitations on a person’s right to possess a gun. Who picks and chooses who can possess a gun? Is a person convicted of stealing a bicycle when he was fifteen years old dangerous twenty years later? It is sobering to realize that our government is slowly taking away the rights of the people they serve.
Why We Fight to Protect Gun Rights
Here at the O’Malley Law Office, we fight hard for the gun rights of our clients. Whether they have been unlawfully charged with Prohibited Use of Weapons, or been denied a concealed carry permit, we know it is important to protect the right to possess firearms. Why? We fight because we know the true cost of abandoning this right. This 4th of July, my thoughts go back to our founding fathers and all they sacrificed for our freedom. They understood far greater than we do the importance of protecting rights because they fought and died to protect them. They understood the grave cost of surrendering our rights – especially the right to bear arms. As one founding father said, “to disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them.” Let us not surrender this freedom without a fight.