CIVIL RIGHTS UPDATE: Gun buyer licensing law giving some Colorado sheriffs heartburn.

Not enforcing it, [Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams] said, makes it harder on his constituents, not easier.

“If I ignore this and don’t issue these permits, I’m creating a bigger barrier for them to exercise their constitutional right to buy a gun,” Reams said. “I’m just trying to get out of the way. It is unconstitutional. But until someone sues, I can at least not be a roadblock. Sheriffs are squarely in the middle of a gun conflict that we didn’t ask to be in.”

Reams was referring to the steps added to purchase semi-automatic guns that accept detachable magazines, which amounts to a huge number of commonly owned handguns and rifles.

Hopeful buyers must first get fingerprinted to prove eligibility to own a gun, then taking that proof to the local sheriff, who then gives them a card that approves them to take a special class by a certified instructor (the details of which are not yet in place). Once the applicant passes that test, they will be put into a statewide database for five years, which gun dealers will then need to access to confirm the person is legally able to purchase the firearm.

However, the added workload and costs to sheriff’s offices across the state are what are of concern for many – but not all – sheriffs. Reams said at this point he’s planning to request two more full time employees to manage the increase. But those numbers are not guaranteed. He said it could be more.

“Weld County has 27,000 concealed-carry permit holders,” Reams said. “That keeps my front office staff busy enough as it is. My guess is there will be four to five times as many people who will want to exercise their right to take that class to go buy a gun.”

I imagine that underfunding/understaffing the required two-day class might prove to be another one of Denver’s infringements.