Colorado’s Concealed Carry Law Hurts Charter School Safety
by Jeffrey T. Hare
In 2003, the Colorado State legislature passed a bill that
allows adults (who pass a criminal background check) the ability to carry a concealed
handgun for their personal protection. Prior to that, law-abiding citizens were
only allowed to openly carry a handgun on their hip (which, of course, makes it
more difficult to “get the drop” on a bad guy). That’s why passage of
Colorado’s “shall issue” concealed carry law was such a major victory for gun
owners. It meant that law-abiding citizens could discretely reserve the option
of protecting life and limb while in public places, without alarming the
innocent, or tipping off criminals, in their midst.
Along with passage of Colorado’s new concealed carry bill,
the legislature also passed several provisions regulating the carrying of
firearms on schools campuses by persons other than students. One such provision
allows authorized security personnel, in the employ of the school district, to
carry a concealed handgun “as part of their normal duties.” While the presence
of an internal “first responder” armed
with a handgun certainly doesn’t guarantee anyone’s safety, it gives
students, teachers, and staff a “fighting chance” to survive what is becoming
an all too common occurrence in our schools.
Prior to the adoption of the Colorado Concealed Carry Act
of 2003 security personnel hired by a charter schools could carry a handgun
concealed. However, the language in 18-12-214(3)(b)
states “employee…retained…by a school district.” Employees of charter schools are NOT considered
school district employees, but rather employees of the each specific charter
school. Therefore, a strict
interpretation of this statute by the courts could mean that security officers
hired by charter schools would not be allowed to carry their weapon concealed.
This is foolish public policy, and deprives charter schools of retaining
well-trained, qualified security personnel to protect staff and students. Often
charter schools cannot afford to hire off-duty police officers, so they must
rely on retired lawmen, combat veterans, or adequately trained civilians for
campus security. Unfortunately, the Colorado legislature took away the conceal
carry option from charter schools in its CCW reform effort in 2003.
Charter schools are a significant, and growing part of the education
of K-12 students. The students, teachers, and staff of Colorado’s 170-plus charter
schools deserve the chance to survive an act of workplace/campus violence, just
as much as their public school counterparts. I call on all gun owners in
Colorado to urge our state legislature to amend Colorado’s Concealed Carry law
to give charter schools the statutory authorization to allow security personnel
to carry concealed, just like every other law abiding Coloradan.
Jeffrey Hare is a successful small businessman, life-long
gun owner, a charter school board member, and an at-large member of the Weld
County Council. Hare lives with his wife of 20 years, and three children in
Greeley, Colorado.
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press contact: jeffreythare@gmail.com
