LARIMER COUNTY | BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS "0 ow 100 Fr Cli, otra 8522-390, 979498730, avinerang March 2, 2019, ‘ear Legislators and Senate State, Veterans, and Miltary Afars Committee Members: ‘We would lke to express our serious concerns with HB19-1177, the "ed flag gun bill nove being considered inthe leglslature ‘The bill proposes a process to see firearms in certain situations in which a person Is deemed tobe a anger to themselves or society. Any time we are contemplating government seizure of persons or property it sinherent that we assure ath Amendment rights guaranteeing the reasonableness ofthe seizure and 14th Amendment rights guaranteeing due process are honored. H839-1477 proposes Implementing new civil process for government to see private property, and there are good reasons to question the constitutional ofthese proceses, As drafted, thsbill may escalate, rather than de-escalate, volatile situations. We do not support law that increases the rik of police agencies getting into shootouts with citizens who have not committed a crime, This ill makes thata very real possibility. Further, It neues some very questionable as well ae same clearly uncanetiutonal aspects. Far Instance, creates search warrants that order police officers to forcibly enter premises and seize a citizen's property with no evidence ofa crime. Over the ast several decades, we have come to recognize that we need to be more, not ls, judicious in how we use force in encounters with those suffering ‘mental health issues. Thisill represents a 180-degree reversal of those actions which are showing favorable outcomes. ‘Additionally, the bil requires police to sete frearms that may be mutually owned by family members, ‘depriving them of thee right to their property. The current bil alo puts the burden on citizens to later prove they ae it to have thelr firearms returned, This burden belongs to the state, nat the cizen [better approach would be to improve the involuntary commitment laws and fund the mental health serves necessary to protect our community, Larimer County and the state are increasing funding Fights now to get at tat nee. \We remain concemed with current stat laws an procedures about involuntary mental health holds while peace officers have the authority o place involuntary holds on those who they belleve ae an Imminent threat to themselves or ethers, all too often we find them released from the hospital within hours with no treatment. That sytem is broken. Thsis where we should concentrate our efforts to Improve public safety.Mareh 12,2018 ga Page 2 a= ‘Asa Board of County Commissioners, we feel compelled to share our concerns with you as this ‘proposed procedure directly impacts the operations af local governments since these orders would not be caried out by state troopers or CB agents, but by lealsherifs and police. Sincerely, ‘mith, Latimer County Sheriff ‘Tom Donnelly, Chair Larimer County Board of County Comnsioners ce: Representative Jeni Amdt Representative Cathy Kipp Representative Hugh MKean Represantathve Perry Buck Senator Joann Ginal Senator Rob Woodward Senator Vicki Marble Senate State, Veterans, and Miltary Affairs Committee