Changes May Come To Concealed Carry Law

State lawmakers are considering a bill that, if passed, would change the state’s gun law regarding concealed weapons on college campuses.

The Colorado House of Representatives can’t pull the trigger on this bill yet.Monday was the third reading of the bill on the House floor. Now, it goes back to Committee for testimony. But, legislators are not the only ones talking about it.

“You can have a gun on your hip. But if i were to put my jacket over my gun that I am carrying, then suddenly I have broken the law” said handgun owner Eli Bremer.Bremer is an Olympic athlete who fires a handgun as part of his pentathalon competition.But, even he thas to apply for a permit to have his gun hidden, when he walks around.

“It never bothers me to get more training, in the same way that I always welcome safety tips,” said Bremer.Handgun safety instructor Larry Green said, “We require someone to take a test drive to drive a car. We need to require people to have an education before they carry a handgun”.

“Constitutional carry means you are able to own a gun, you are able to carry it,” responded handgun constitution expert Mike Hollar. Currently, concealed carry permits are determined by local sheriffs.

“The Sheriff’s Department sees tremendous benefit to the current system and it’s very effective in allowing Law Enforcement to differentiate between the criminals and the law abiding citizens,” said Sgt. Mike Schaller of the El Paso Sheriff’s Department.

For potential permit candidates like Bremer, they are all for the training.However, they want it to be voluntary. “If I were carrying a gun concealed, I would want to get the training. But that is my choice,” said Bremer. The bill will go down to the floor for a final reading, and then be voted on.

On Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court voted that handgun owners are allowed to carry their weapons on university campuses, if they have a permit. Under the new proposal, they would no longer need that permit to carry a concealed weapon on campuses.