Happy 4th of July from the O’Malley Law Office!
Here at the O’Malley Law Office, we are passionate about protecting the rights and freedoms of our clients. We defend people who have been charged with crimes in Weld, Morgan, and Logan County because we want to preserve justice and give a voice to the defenseless. One way in which we do this is by fighting for the gun rights of our clients. We understand this isn’t a terribly popular opinion in the current culture. But, we also understand the true cost of surrendering the right to bear arms. Let’s look at a few circumstances where this freedom is denied.
“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” – Thomas Jefferson
Prohibited Use of Weapons
We have worked with clients who have been charged with Prohibited Use of Weapons. In many cases, the charges are unwarranted. For example, let’s say you were drinking alcohol at your home, and the police are called because the neighbors heard yelling (you were upset by the football game). If you have a gun in the home, you could be charged with Prohibited Use of Weapons for having a gun in your possession while drinking. While it isn’t wise to use a gun while drinking, making it illegal to do so in your own home is ignoring the Constitution. When you read through the 2nd Amendment or the Colorado Constitution, Article II, Section 13, do you see any reference to limitations on gun rights? No. It is dangerous when the government starts picking, choosing, and redefining our rights.
“You can’t pick and choose which types of freedom you want to defend. You must defend all of it or be against all of it.” – Scott Howard Phillips
Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender
If a person has a prior conviction of any felony, they are unable to possess a firearm. This applies to juvenile felony adjudications and non-violent felonies as well. Many people think “possession” means ownership. This is not the case. All it takes is for someone with a felony on their record to have a gun in their home or car. Again, this limitation on the ability to possess a firearm is not found in either the Colorado Constitution or the Second Amendment. The problem with picking which types of freedom you want to defend lies in power and authority. The person who chooses has all the power.
Why We Fight to Protect Gun Rights in Colorado
As we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, my thoughts always return to our founding fathers. They sacrificed so much to establish a free country. They understood far better (because they fought for it) how important it is to preserve the rights of the people, because they understood the true cost of surrendering them. This was especially true for the right to bear arms. As founding father George Mason said: “To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them.”
If your gun rights have been denied in Greeley, Evans, or Erie, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O’Malley Law Office for a free consultation at 970-616-6009. Together, we can protect your future.
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