On June 26, federal Judge Marcia Krieger upheld two Colorado gun laws, one limiting gun magazines to 15 rounds, the other calling for background checks on all gun sales.

“Of the many law enforcement officials called to testify, none were able to identify a single instance in which they were involved where a single civilian fired more than 15 shots in self-defense,” said Judge Krieger.

And is anyone really losing their “rights” when they have to reload their gun? Judge Krieger also noted that no evidence was produced at the two-week trial that indicated people’s ability to defend themselves is seriously diminished if magazines are limited to 15 rounds. This must have come as a (partial) blow to our own La Plata County Sheriff Duke Schirard, who, along with 50 other Colorado sheriffs, sued in court (in their official capacity) that the law impinged on their Second Amendment rights and that it was unenforceable. Schirard was quoted in The Durango Herald as saying, “I don’t have the resources to go out and ask for sales receipts on magazines that anybody possesses.”

We wouldn’t want our elected sheriff to bother to enforce state of Colorado laws he doesn’t agree with, or that take too much effort to enforce. Just like I’d not be expected to pay taxes, bucking a federal tax law when I don’t agree with how the money is being spent. Sadly, our Sheriff Schirard and many other sheriffs in Colorado have wasted a lot of time and effort in court over a political issue, while portraying it as a practical one. At least from now on he’ll have to disagree with these gun laws as a private citizen and not in his official capacity. And maybe he’ll even start to enforce these Colorado state laws, even if he does have to check a few sales receipts now and then.

Tim Thomas

Durango