Chris Holbert (R-Highlands Ranch) is irresistibly cheerful.  He presented HB11-1205, the Concealed Handgun Exception bill, with a big smile, which became almost Cheshire cat-like when he asked an aide to do an open weapon/concealed weapon show for the House Judiciary Committee.

Show and tell reveals concealed fake weapon

Judiciary chair Bob Gardner (R-ColoSpgs) backed his chair up and said that the committee doesn't generally permit show and tell, but allowed the show to go on.  Holbert's aide proceeded to reveal  a phony concealed weapon under her coat jacket, showed how the weapon would likely be carried in the open, and then concealed the fake weapon again.

According to Holbert, gun owners need the right to carry concealed handguns rather than open carry because open carry creeps people out.  Apparently, few people are thrilled to see a weapon openly displayed in a park with kids around, but if people don't know the weapon is there, everything is copacetic.

Fear of concealed weapons lowers crime, says supporters

The committee discussed the effectiveness of handguns, concealed or open, as crime discouragers.  Bob Edmundston of the Firearm Coalition of Colorado says that criminals do a risk assessment before committing crimes, and that they will avoid a site where guns are obvious.

Police chiefs like to know who's packing

Anne Marie Jensen, speaking for the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, said that the current concealed weapon certification program works well, as it has refused permits to 1200 people who "assumed they were eligible to carry, but weren't."  She said that fewer than 1% of gun deaths are a result of self defense, but that the majority of gun deaths are homicide, suicide, or accidents.

Representative Pete Lee (D-Manitou) said that public safety is his greatest concern.  Dudley Brown of the Colorado Organization of Gun Owners sharply reprimanded Lee, saying "your number one responsibility is to the constitution." 

Some legislators carry concealed, though not to public schools

If Lee sticks close to some of his fellow legislators, he should feel safe, because many of them carry concealed handguns, except to public schools where it's illegal. Concealed carry to private schools is okay. Claire Levy noted, "we don't have statistics about homicide with concealed weapons.  The constitution allows a person to carry a gun, and there shouldn't be any restrictions on that, but in modern America, it's largely concealed carry, with many legislators doing that."

Apparently there's a paucity of detailed information on the impact of concealed handguns on crime, suicides, and accidents, because states are prevented from collecting such evidence.

Concealed carry encourages law abidingness in citizens

Holbert believes that people will act more responsibly if they can carry their weapon concealed, on the premise that if they lose their temper with a weapon, there will be hell to pay.  He further stated that "women have an advantage in carrying concealed," because others don't expect women to have weapons.

No more coat tax, says Holbert

Holbert sees the $152.50 cost of a concealed carry permit as a "coat tax," because he can carry a weapon almost anywhere in the open for free. "This bill will allow law abiding citizens to carry a handgun without having to take a background check or pay a fee to the local sheriff."  "I can carry a weapon concealed in my home and in my car with no permit, but as soon as I get out of my car and put a coat on over the gun, it's concealed and I'm breaking the law."

The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee 8-3, primarily on a gender based vote, with three of four women legislators voting against the bill, and one woman, BJ Nikkel (R-Loveland), joining the men.

This post was published on February 27, 2011. Permalink »