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Colorado State Shooting Association, Et. Al., v. City of Boulder
Colorado State Shooting Association, Et. Al., v. City of Boulder
v.
▲COURT USE ONLY▲
Defendant: THE CITY OF BOULDER
______________________________________________
Attorneys for Plaintiffs:
Plaintiffs, Robert Lynn Chambers, James Michael Jones, Gunsport of Colorado, and
Colorado State Shooting Association (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), by and through counsel, file
their complaint against The City of Boulder (“Defendant”) and state the following.
INTRODUCTION
1. The City of Boulder recently enacted Boulder Ordinance 8245 (“the Ordinance”),
which regulates the possession of certain firearms and ammunition magazines. Additionally, the
Ordinance raises the age of majority to twenty-one years and specifies a means by which certain
firearms must be carried. In all respects, the Ordinance is preempted by state law. Years ago, the
Colorado General Assembly declared the regulation of possession and ownership of firearms to
be a matter of statewide concern. Thus, local governments are expressly prohibited from
regulating the sale, purchase, or possession of firearms. This Court should enter declaratory
judgment that the Ordinance is preempted and enjoin Defendant from its enforcement.
PARTIES
4. Each individual Plaintiff is otherwise eligible under the laws of the United States
and the State of Colorado to receive and possess firearms and magazines, including firearms
defined by the Ordinance as “assault weapons” and magazines defined by the Ordinance as
“large-capacity magazines.” Each individual Plaintiff currently owns and, but for the credible
threat of prosecution under the Ordinance, would purchase additional so-called “assault
weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” after the deadlines prescribed in the Ordinance.
6. Plaintiff Gunsport can and does represent the interests of its customers and
potential customers in the purchase and sale of previously lawful firearms.
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own firearms defined by the Ordinance as “assault weapons” and ammunition magazines defined
by the Ordinance as “large-capacity magazines.”
8. CSSA brings suit on its own behalf and on behalf of its members.
JURISDICTION
10. Jurisdiction is founded on Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 57, which provides
that “[d]istrict . . . courts within their respective jurisdictions shall have power to declare rights,
status, and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed.” COLO. R.
CIV. P. 57(a). “Any person . . . whose rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by a
statute, municipal ordinance, contract, or franchise, may have determined any question of
construction or validity arising under the instrument, statute, ordinance, contract, or franchise
and obtain a declaration of rights, status, or other legal relations thereunder.” COLO. R. CIV. P.
57(b).
FACTS
11. Colorado Constitution Article XX, Section 6 grants “home rule” to municipalities
opting to operate under its provisions.
13. To determine the respective authority of the state legislature and home rule
municipalities, the Colorado Supreme Court recognizes “three broad categories of regulatory
matters: (1) matters of local concern; (2) matters of statewide concern; and (3) matters of mixed
state and local concern.” City and County of Denver v. State, 788 P.2d 764, 767 (Colo. 1990)
(collecting cases).
14. In matters of statewide concern, “the General Assembly may adopt legislation and
home rule municipalities are without power to act unless authorized by the constitution or by
state statute.” Id. In matters of mixed concern, state and local laws may coexist to the extent
there is no conflict, “but in the event of conflict the state statute supersedes the conflicting
provision of the charter or ordinance.” Id. In matters of local concern, both the state and the
municipality may legislate. Id. But, “when a home rule ordinance or charter provision and a state
statute conflict with respect to a local matter, the home rule provision supersedes the conflicting
state provision.” Id.
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Regulation of Firearms Is a Matter of Statewide Concern
15. The Colorado General Assembly has declared the regulation of possession and
ownership of firearms as a matter of statewide concern. Section 29-11.7-101 of the Colorado
Revised Statutes states in its entirety:
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C.R.S. § 29-11.7-101.
16. Under Colorado state law, “[f]irearms database[s]” are “prohibited.” C.R.S. § 29-
11.7-102.
17. Under Colorado state law, local governments are expressly prohibited from
regulating the sale, purchase, or possession of firearms:
A local government may not enact an ordinance, regulation, or other law that
prohibits the sale, purchase, or possession of a firearm that a person may lawfully sell,
purchase, or possess under state or federal law. Any such ordinance, regulation, or other
law enacted by a local government prior to March 18, 2003, is void and unenforceable.
C.R.S. § 29-11.7-103.
18. The need for uniform, statewide legislation underpins the constitutional rights to
keep and bear arms in defense of life and liberty. Id. § 101(1)(a)–(b). Thus, home rule
municipalities are without power to regulate the purchase, possession, or transfer of firearms
without explicit constitutional or statutory authority. To the extent that municipal ordinances
conflict with state law, the municipal ordinance is invalid and may not be enforced.
19. The Colorado Criminal Code defining offenses relating to firearms and other
weapons permits ownership of “assault weapons.” Colorado state law merely prohibits
“dangerous weapons” (including firearm silencers, machine guns, short shotguns, short rifles,
and ballistic knives) and “illegal weapons” (including blackjacks, gas guns, and metallic
knuckles). C.R.S. § 18-12-102.
20. Under Colorado law, subject to certain exceptions, a person may not sell, transfer,
or possess a “large-capacity magazine” unless he or she owned the magazine on July 1, 2013,
and maintains continuous possession of it. Id. § 18-12-302(1)-(2). A “large-capacity magazine”
is defined under Colorado state law as one designed to hold or converted to accept “more than
fifteen rounds of ammunition.” Id. § 18-12-301(2)(a)(I).
21. Under Colorado state law, an adult is “any person eighteen years of age or older,”
and a juvenile is “any person under the age of eighteen years.” Id. § 18-12-101(a), (e.7).
Furthermore, “it is unlawful for any person who has not attained the age of eighteen years
knowingly to have any handgun in such a person’s possession.” Id. § 18-12-108.5(1)(a). And
“[a]ny person who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly provides a handgun with or without
remuneration to any person under the age of eighteen years . . . commits the crime of unlawfully
providing a handgun to a juvenile or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun.” Id. § 18-12-
108.7(1)(a). With regard to firearms other than handguns, “no person shall sell, rent, or transfer
ownership or allow unsupervised possession of a firearm with or without remuneration to any
juvenile without the consent of the juvenile’s parent or legal guardian.” Id. § 18-12-108.7(3).
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22. Finally, Colorado state law defines the offense of carrying a concealed firearm as
a class 2 misdemeanor but makes no mention of the manner by which a firearm must be
transported. See id. § 18-12-105(1)(b).
23. The Ordinance prohibits the purchase, possession, use, sale, and transfer of so-
called “assault weapons” by law-abiding citizens unless they undergo a certification process,
through which municipal authorities will catalog and approve such ownership. Specifically, the
Ordinance provides: “Any person seeking to certify an assault weapon that he or she legally
possessed prior to June 15, 2018 must comply with the following requirements: (1) Submit to a
background check conducted by the appropriate law enforcement agency to confirm that he or
she is not prohibited to possess a firearm pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922 or C.R.S. § 18-12-108; (2)
Unless the person is currently prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, prior to December
31, 2018 apply for a certificate for the assault weapon from the Boulder Police Department; (3)
Safely and securely store the assault weapon pursuant to the regulations adopted by the
appropriate law enforcement agency; (4) Possess the assault weapon only on property owned or
immediately controlled by the person, or while on the premises of a licensed gunsmith for the
purpose of lawful repair, or while engaged in the legal use of the assault weapon at a duly
licensed firing range, or while traveling to or from these locations, provided that the assault
weapon is stored unloaded in a locked container during transport. The term “locked container”
does not include the utility compartment, glove compartment, or trunk of a motor vehicle; and
(5) Report the loss or theft of a certified assault weapon to the appropriate law enforcement
agency within 48 hours of the time the discovery was made or should have been made.” The
Ordinance further provides: “The owner of a certified assault weapon may not possess in the
City of Boulder any assault weapons purchased after June 15, 2018.”
24. The Ordinance also prohibits “large-capacity magazines” that hold more than 10
rounds.
25. Further, the Ordinance raises the age of majority to 21 years, thereby depriving
people between the ages of eighteen and twenty of their right to possess otherwise lawful
firearms.
26. Finally, the Ordinance prohibits the transport of rifles and shotguns unless carried
in a case reasonably recognizable as (or labeled as) a case in which a firearm is being carried.
Specifically, the Ordinance provides: “Any person carrying a firearm off of the person’s property
or outside of the person’s business or vehicle shall carry the firearm in a carrying case. The
carrying case must be recognizable as a gun carrying case by a reasonable person. A plain-
shaped case muse be clearly marked to be deemed recognizable under this standard. A holster
satisfies the requirement of a carrying case for a pistol. The carrying case must be openly carried
and must not be concealed on or about the person. This section shall not apply to individuals who
have a permit to carry a concealed weapon issued pursuant to state law, unless the weapon being
carried is an assault weapon.”
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27. The General Assembly has declared the regulation of possession and ownership
of firearms to be a matter of statewide concern. The Ordinance’s provisions directly conflict with
Colorado state law. Neither the Colorado Constitution nor any controlling statutory provisions
authorize the City of Boulder to pass such conflicting regulation of possession and ownership of
firearms. Thus, the Ordinance is preempted by Colorado state law and may not be enforced.
28. The Ordinance indeed conflicts with controlling Colorado law on key points,
which creates great detriment to the citizens of the City of Boulder.
29. Because of the Ordinance, citizens of the City of Boulder (including Plaintiffs
Chambers and Jones) must now endure an intrusive and unnecessary certification process to
possess so-called “assault weapons” that are otherwise legal and not subject to statewide
regulation. Indeed, Plaintiffs Chambers and Jones wish to continue possessing regulated firearms
past the arbitrary December 31, 2018, deadline without rendering the firearms inoperable or
submitting to the lengthy certification process.
30. Likewise, many citizens of the City of Boulder may have purchased a so-called
“assault weapon” and possessed the weapon within the City of Boulder before the June 15, 2018,
deadline. Because of the Ordinance, such citizens must also succumb to a certification process
not authorized by Colorado state law.
31. Further, the Ordinance strips citizens of the City of Boulder between the ages of
eighteen and twenty years old of their right to acquire, possess, and transfer otherwise lawful
firearms. If these citizens traveled to another city, they would be able to acquire the same
weapons Boulder arbitrarily prohibits.
32. Likewise, the Ordinance erroneously impairs the ability of licensed firearms
dealers and distributors, like Plaintiff Gunsport, from selling or otherwise transferring legal
firearms to people between the ages of eighteen and twenty years old. The Ordinance thus
imposes great detriment on firearm dealers and distributors by forcing potential customers to
leave the City of Boulder and travel to a different municipality to purchase firearms that are
otherwise legal under Colorado state law.
33. Finally, many citizens of the City of Boulder may wish to transport firearms in
cases or through other means that would run afoul of the Ordinance’s strict carrying-case
requirement. While Colorado state law regulates the concealed carry of firearms, it does not
prescribe particular methods of carry. The Ordinance thus imposes obligations beyond those
outlined in controlling Colorado state law.
34. The Ordinance creates precisely the situation the General Assembly sought to
avoid when it identified the regulation of possession and ownership of firearms as a matter of
statewide concern. Namely, because of the Ordinance, citizens of the City of Boulder now run
the risk of prosecution for conduct that is otherwise legal under Colorado state law.
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35. Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Court (i) enter a declaratory judgment that
Boulder Ordinance 8245 regulates issues of possession and ownership of firearms that are
matters of state concern, and is thus preempted in its entirety by conflicting Colorado
constitutional and statutory authority; (ii) enjoin Defendant and its official officers, agents, and
employees from administration and enforcement of Boulder Ordinance 8245.
CAUSES OF ACTION
Count I
(The Boulder Ordinance Requiring Certification of Assault Weapons is Preempted by
Colorado State Law.)
37. The Ordinance prohibits the purchase, possession, use, sale, and transfer of so-
called “assault weapons” by law-abiding citizens unless they undergo a detailed certification
process, through which municipal authorities will catalog and approve such ownership.
38. In contrast, Colorado Constitution Article II, Section 13 provides: “The right of
no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or in aid of the
civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called into question; but nothing herein
contained shall be construed to justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons.”
39. Under Colorado state law, “[a] local government may not enact an ordinance,
regulation, or other law that prohibits the sale, purchase, or possession of a firearm that a person
may lawfully sell, purchase, or possess under state or federal law.” C.R.S. § 29-11.7-103.
40. Under Colorado state law, “[a] local government, including a law enforcement
agency, shall not maintain a list or other form of record or database of: (a) Persons who purchase
or exchange firearms or who leave firearms for repair or sale on consignment; (b) Persons who
transfer firearms, unless the persons are federally licensed firearms dealers; (c) The descriptions,
including serial numbers, of firearms purchased, transferred, exchanged, or left for repair or sale
on consignment.” C.R.S. § 29-11.7-102.
41. The Ordinance directly violates Colorado state law prohibiting the maintenance of
a list or other form of record or database of persons who purchase or exchange firearms and
details about the firearms themselves. The Ordinance also violates the Colorado state law
prohibiting municipalities from regulating the sale, purchase, or possession of firearms legal
under state and federal law.
42. Under Colorado state law, possession of so-called “assault weapons” banned by
the Ordinance is legal. Instead, the Colorado Criminal Code merely prohibits “dangerous
weapons” (firearm silencers, machine guns, short shotguns, short rifles, and ballistic knives) and
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“illegal weapons” (blackjacks, gas guns, and metallic knuckles). C.R.S. § 18-12-102. “Under the
rule of [statutory] interpretation expression unius est exclusio alterius, the inclusion of certain
items implies the exclusion of others.” Beeghly v. Mack, 20 P.3d 610, 614 (Colo. 2001) (en
banc). The General Assembly chose to regulate the enumerated weapons while specifically
exempting from regulation the so-called “assault weapons” regulated by the Ordinance. Thus,
Colorado state law speaks to this issue, actively foregoing a certification requirement like the one
present in the Ordinance.
Count II
(The Boulder Ordinance Banning “Large-Capacity Magazines” as Those Which Hold
More Than 10 Rounds is Preempted by Colorado State Law.)
46. During the Second Reading of what was then House Bill 13-1224, the General
Assembly debated whether to define “large-capacity magazines” as those which hold ten rounds
or those which hold fifteen. Based on testimony from concerned citizens, the General Assembly
ultimately concluded that a “large-capacity magazine” should be defined as one capable of
holding in excess of fifteen rounds, thereby preempting any attempt by the municipalities to
legislate otherwise. See House Second Reading, AN ACT CONCERNING PROHIBITING LARGE-
CAPACITY MAGAZINES, H.B. 13-1224 (Feb. 15, 2013), at pp. 4:13–19 (Statement of
Representative Rhonda Fields); 12:11–14:23 (Statement of Representative Joseph A. Salazar).
Count III
(The Boulder Ordinance Prohibiting Possession of Firearms by Persons Between Eighteen
and Twenty Years Old is Preempted by Colorado State Law.)
49. The Ordinance defines a minor as “a person under twenty-one years of age.” It
also provides that “[n]o minor shall knowingly possess a firearm,” subject to certain discrete
exceptions.
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50. The Colorado Criminal Code defines an adult as “any person eighteen years of
age or older” and a juvenile as “any person under the age of eighteen years.” C.R.S. § 18-12-
101(a), (e.7). Colorado state law prohibits minors (i.e., people under the age of eighteen) from
possessing handguns. C.R.S. § 18-12-108.5.
51. The Ordinance deprives people between the ages of eighteen and twenty of their
lawful right to purchase and possess firearms, which directly conflicts with Colorado state law
and is thus preempted.
Count IV
(The Boulder Ordinance Prohibiting the Sale of Firearms to Persons Between Eighteen and
Twenty Years Old is Preempted by Colorado State Law.)
53. The Ordinance defines a minor as “a person under twenty-one years of age,”
while Colorado state law defines a minor as “any person under the age of eighteen years.” C.R.S.
§ 18-12-101(e.7).
54. The Ordinance prohibits any person from providing a rifle or a shotgun to a minor
under circumstances that would cause the minor to otherwise violate the terms of the Ordinance.
55. Under Colorado state law, no person may sell or otherwise provide a handgun to a
minor. C.R.S. § 18-12-108.7. With regard to firearms other than handguns, no person shall sell or
otherwise provide a firearm to a minor without the consent of his or her parents or legal
guardians. Id.
56. The Ordinance deprives dealers of the right to sell firearms to people between the
ages of eighteen and twenty in direct conflict with Colorado state law. This part of the Ordinance
is preempted by state law.
Count V
(The Boulder Ordinance Prohibiting the Open Carry of Rifles and Shotguns is Preempted
by Colorado State Law.)
58. The Ordinance prohibits the transport of rifles and shotguns unless carried in a
case reasonably recognizable as (or labeled as) a case in which a firearm is being carried.
59. Under Colorado state law, “[a] local government may enact an ordinance,
regulation, or other law that prohibits the open carrying of a firearm in a building or specific area
within the local government’s jurisdiction.” C.R.S. § 29-11.7-104. Further, “[a] person commits
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a class 2 misdemeanor if such person knowingly and unlawfully . . . [c]arries a firearm concealed
on or about his or her person.” C.R.S. § 18-12-105.
60. Under Colorado state law, persons are free to open carry in any manner they
choose outside of a building or specific area under the City of Boulder’s jurisdiction.
B. Enjoin Defendant and its official officers, agents, and employees from
administration and enforcement of Boulder Ordinance 8245;
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Respectfully Submitted,
s/Richard A. Westfall
Richard A. Westfall, No. 15295
Peter J. Krumholz, No. 27741
Plaintiffs’ Addresses:
Gunsport of Colorado
Ross Shackleton, President
1707 14th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
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