Castle Rock City Council Objects House Bill 1224

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House Bill 1224, didn’t make City Councli’s day. [Photo by Emily Pennetti]

CASTLE ROCK, Colo.– Castle Rock Mayor Paul Donahue brought up objections to House Bill 1224 at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. The council members voted 6-0 to send a resolution to the State Senate, and a letter to the Governor objecting to the bill.

“I would like to direct our town attorney to create a resolution that town council could get behind in number one, on the Constitution, number two, in support of our Second Amendment rights,” Donahue said.

“There are times that I feel that it is important that the members and residents of this community have the opportunity to defend themselves,” he added, “and that that right to defend themselves is not infringed upon by the State Legislature.

The House Bill 1224 “prohibits the sale, transfer, or possession of an ammunition feeding device that is capable of accepting, or that can be readily converted to accept, more than 10 round of ammunition or more than 5 shotgun shells (large-capacity magazine). The bill passed through the Colorado House of Representatives with a majority-wins verdict and will now be pushed on to the Colorado State Senate.

“If my wife would like to have more than 30 bullets in a magazine to protect herself and my family, I think that she deserves to have that,” Donahue said.

Councilman Joe Procopio said, “I whole heartedly support what you’re doing, and what you’re asking to be done.”

Another large opponent of this bill is a company called Magpul. They design and manufacture polymer firearms accessories and concept firearms (high capacity magazines). Based in Erie, Colo. Magpul is one of the leading gun accessory manufacturers in the nation.

Founder and CEO of Magpul, Richard Fitzpatrick, has threatened to leave Colorado if the bill is passed. He has publicly stated that making products that are illegal in Colorado is counter to the company’s values. Though the company is still legally able to produce these high-capacity magazines, they would not be able to sell them locally. Fitzpatrick has threaten to relocate Magpul if House Bill 1224 becomes law. With the company employing hundreds of Coloradans, this can largely affect them and the economy.

However, with two of the leading mass murders in American history, Colorado may be a model for other states. The bill is designed to be part of an answer to these shootings. Other bills have also been designed in answers to gun control. The future of gun owners may be questionable.

“I went out and bought a new pistol,” Procopio said, “and it’s something that you go to the stores and you find traffic that you wouldn’t believe. It’s caught the attention of the citizens of Castle Rock especially those law abiding citizens who firmly believe in the Second Amendment.”

The City Council of Castle Rock will take their next steps in opposing the Bill 1224 as the Castle Rock Town Attorney prepares a resolution and letter.