When considering purchasing gun, Sheriff’s Office stresses responsibility

Local gun retailers said they have become very busy lately, but the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office cautions buyers to think before they introduce a gun into their homes.

“We recognize that gun ownership is certainly a right that folks have, and we want to encourage folks to be able to exercise that right, but we also want to make sure that they don’t make a decision based on emotion but rather really think through that decision to buy a firearm,” said Lt. Jeff Kramer, spokesperson for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

Kramer said people considering purchasing a gun need to consider everything that goes along with owning a gun, such as how to keep the gun out of your children’s hands. He said additional monetary costs and investments could be necessary to ensure your gun is stored safely.

He said that Colorado is an “open carry” state. That means if someone can lawfully possess a gun, they are allowed to carry it as long as it can be seen and easily recognized as a firearm.

In order to carry the gun in a concealed fashion, a separate permit is required.

“If your reason is to be able to protect yourself and others, you may or may not find yourself in a scenario where you think you can intervene safely and perhaps save someone else,” said Kramer.

Kramer said ample amounts of training are necessary to ensure gun owners are proficient and able to appropriately in a stressful environment.

The Sheriff’s Office said they want people to also think about the fact that if they have a gun, and the appropriate permits, firing the gun is not always the best option.

“There’s a lot involved in that and sometimes they can put themselves in unnecessary harm when again it would have been better perhaps to take a step back and call local authorities and simply be a good witness,” said Kramer.

For more information on the concealed carry permit, click here.