More in Colorado aim to carry guns
Concealed-carry requests escalate
By Erin Emery, The Denver Post 03/12/2008
COLORADO SPRINGS — Applications for concealed-weapon permits have skyrocketed in Colorado, with the increase fueled by everything from heavily publicized mass shootings to routine renewals, according to the state's sheriffs.
In 2007, 9,880 people statewide sought permits, compared with 6,649 people in 2006 and 6,670 people in 2005, according to the County Sheriffs of Colorado. And the surge has continued into 2008 in several counties.
Law-enforcement experts have different ideas on why more people want to carry concealed weapons. Some believe it is due to a rash of violent outbreaks at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University and a mall in Utah.
Some sheriff's offices believe churches concerned about protecting their flocks are seeking concealed-carry permits. Another official believes many of the initial batch of five-year permits in the state are expiring soon and that people are simply renewing applications. Those seeking permits are not required to explain why they want to carry a weapon. Whatever the reason, the trend is real.
"People want to defend themselves," said Doug Davis, president of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition. "That's why they get permits."
After Matthew Murray opened fire at New Life Church in Colorado Springs on Dec. 9, killing two sisters, applications for permits soared in El Paso County. The number rose by 123 in December, 171 in January, and 294 in February, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. That represents increases of 31 percent in December, 155 percent in January and 262 percent in February.
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said: "We saw a real surge after the New Life incident. People were commenting that they were concerned about the homicide rate in the city. They were asking, 'Is it really getting that bad? Should we be worried?' "
Maketa said that perception locally, combined with acts of violence on college campuses and at the Utah mall, spurred people to seek permits.
Adams County is on pace to double the number of applications processed this year over last year, said Candi Baker, spokeswoman for the sheriff.
"Some of those applicants have directly attributed their desire for a concealed-weapons permit to the shooting in the church, and they want to be able to provide security for their churches," Baker said.
Jefferson County's applications fell by four in December and rose from 104 in January 2007 to 154 in January 2008. In February 2007, the county had 87, and last month 243 — a 179 percent increase for the month, said Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the sheriff.
Don Christensen, executive director of the County Sheriffs of Colorado, said he believes many people sought permits in 2003 when the legislature decided they would be issued by sheriffs, and he thinks the spike is from people now seeking renewals.
Statewide figures comparing new applications to renewals are not available, but in El Paso County, 75 percent of those who sought applications last year sought new permits, not renewals.
Chet Zajak, a security expert and former Aspen police officer who operates CZ Inc. from the Roaring Fork Valley, said providing security and use-of-force training for churches is a growth industry.
Church leaders are becoming aware that their buildings are "soft targets," he said. "Our research shows that between 1974 and 1999, we had about one church shooting a year, if that. Now, between 1999 and 2007, that's gone up over 500 percent."
In many churches, volunteers with law enforcement or military backgrounds often are called on to provide security. Zajak teaches those people and others how to develop comprehensive security programs.
"What it looks like right now is a whole bunch of good-intentioned volunteers who individually do just fine, but we teach people to pray with their eyes open so that everybody is paying attention to what is going on," Zajak said. "Hardening of schools, high schools and churches is finally an emerging area. People cannot ignore it anymore."
The Colorado Springs Police Department is holding a forum on church security Thursday. The training seminar is timely.
On Sunday, a "mentally challenged" man who occasionally attends Holy Apostles Catholic Church brought a sword to the church. He kept it in a sheath and did not threaten anyone. He told an usher, who asked him to take the sword out of the church, that he wanted to have the sword blessed. The man was not arrested.
That kind of incident is prompting many church security personnel to seek concealed-weapon permits and to develop church security plans, Zajak said.
