5-6-21 Villager

Page 1

VOLUME 39 • NUMBER 24 • MAY 6, 2021

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Arapahoe Clerk Joan Lopez asks BOCC to ban open carry in public buildings here because of the recent events in Colorado and across the country with active shooters. Last year, a man who was open carrying, came to our Littleton building with his son and proceeded to stand in front of our entrance with no reason at all but to intimate customers… My staff have expressed concerns and I…saw the fear in my employees’ eyes when this happened. I have real safety concerns for my staff, customers, and the safety of our commissioners when they are in an open public meeting. It is important to have a safe environment for all of us.”

other front range counties, including Douglas, Denver, Jefferson, Broomfield. Adams, and Boulder Counties, already ban open carry. On April 27, Arapahoe County Commissioner Jeff Baker Clerk Joan Lopez and Cheryl noted that, of the man who stood Ternes, the county’s human serat the entrance to the Clerk’s vices director, appeared in front Office while carrying a gun was of the Board of County Commisnot breaking the law, pointing out sioners (BOCC) to speak about that there are laws on the books potential security enhancements at against “using a weapon in a way county facilities. Arapahoe County that could be threatening, could be Attorney Ron Carl explained that menacing.” He added, “The only the impetus for the meeting was motor vehicle office in my district a request by Lopez to ban the (commissioner district three) is in open carry of firearms at County a bank building in Byers…and if Clerk’s offices, as well as Ternes’ the bank doesn’t ban open carry, then our motor vehicle office should follow suit.” After Lopez said she didn’t know the bank’s policy, Herman pointed out that, “People…have the ability to choose a bank. They would not have the opportunity to choose which motor vehicle office and in which county Arapahoe County Commissioners are (bottom row) Carrie Warren-Gully, Nancy they would like to be serviced.” Jackson (chair), Nancy Sharpe, (back row), Bill Holen, and Jeff Baker. When Comconcerns about guns being brought Karl Herman, Lopez’ chief missioner Bill Holen asked Lopez into human services’ building. deputy added, “This request to whether her “employees are In the report prepared for the ban open carry is supported by the ones that expressed concern BOCC in advance of the meeting, (Arapahoe County) Sheriff (Tyabout…people coming in with Carl and John Christofferson, ler) Brown, (Arapahoe County) open carry,” Lopez responded, deputy county attorney, noted Assessor (P.K.) Kaiser, as well “Yes, especially in the Aurora that many Arapahoe County local as many Arapahoe County office.” She noted having received governments already prohibit the employees and customers that a “pretty scary email” about the open carry of firearms in some or we’ve interacted with.” Herman potential of an active shooter all of their buildings, including emphasized that the ban being refrom the branch manager in Authe cities of Aurora, Greenwood quested was limited to open carry rora, because the only method of Village, Centennial, Engleof firearms and did not extend to egress presently for employees wood, Littleton, and Sheridan. concealed carry. He noted that working behind the counter in that Lopez told the BOCC, “I’m while Arapahoe County does not, office, in the event of an emerBY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

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gency, is through the front door. Commissioner Nancy Sharpe said, “I understand the open carry being visible, but why is that more scary than concealed carry? Someone with concealed carry could just as easily pull their weapon out and fire it…Why are you only focusing on open carry?” Herman responded, “The difference…is optics…In one instance, (open carry), there is an intimidation factor…We’re not talking about concealed carry… (because) we are…fighting a lot of financial constraints and there are a lot of additional costs associated with going to a concealed carry setup…. (Banning) open carry… is little to no cost…You print out a sign, you distribute it to the buildings, and then you message the policy out…This is a zero-cost additional (safety) enhancement that we could do.” Comparing concealed carry to open carry, Herman said, “I can’t think about the (gun) that I don’t see. I can only think about the one that I see.” Sharpe pointed out that it was important for the BOCC to determine what steps would need to be taken and resources allocated to avert or respond to a potential conflict that might arise if open carry is banned and a person nevertheless enters the building with a weapon. Cheryl Ternes told the BOCC that her staff was concerned about the parenting time area of the human services department, where parents who are only permitted to have supervised visits with their children who are in foster care, visit with their children. The employees in that department would like to see a sign put up saying that weapons were prohibited there. After more discussion, Baker asked BOCC Chair Nancy Jackson, “You said that when you see guns, you see them as a tool to kill. Does that apply when you see them on a police officer?” Jackson responded, “Yes, that’s

Joan Lopez was elected Arapahoe County Clerk in 2018.

what it’s there for—to intimidate or possibly shoot somebody.” Baker said, “As a former law enforcement officer, when I carried a weapon, it was to protect the public.” And so it went. Later, Baker said, “I’m not opposed to this, because I do think employees need to be comfortable and safe… in the workplace… (as well as) our customers… But I do believe it is a mindset. The way I look at people open carrying is, if they had ill intent, they wouldn’t be open carrying it, they’d be hiding it…I sometimes look at people that are open carrying and say, wow, I’m safe... but I do think this is worth considering and worth discussing. I’ve got an open mind…I just think that sometimes it’s overkill… We step over the line to abrogating certain people’s rights.” The discussion closed with Chair Jackson concluding that the BOCC needed more information in order to make a decision on Lopez’ and Ternes’ requests. Commissioners Warren-Gully and Holen asked that the needed information be obtained by county staff expeditiously so that the decision could be made soon. fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

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