This story first appeared in a Colorado Community Media newspaper. Support CCM’s neighborhood news.
Two of Littleton’s four firearm retailers will miss the deadline to comply with a first-in-the-state safe-storage law intended to prevent store burglaries, citing contractor delays and supply shortages.
Littleton police, however, say they feel confident the retailers are on the path to compliance.
Littleton City Council passed an ordinance in February requiring gun dealers to lock up weapons in safes or hardened rooms after hours, citing frustration after years of gun store burglaries resulting in the collective theft of dozens of firearms.
The law, which took effect Aug. 1, requires all gun retailers within city limits to obtain a city-issued license showing approval of a “safe-storage plan,” which mandates all firearms must be stored in a locked safe, gun cabinet or secured safe room after business hours.
The law also requires licensees to utilize a burglar alarm that sends reports directly to Littleton Police rather than a store owner or manager. The license must be renewed annually.
Littleton’s two pawn shops, Broadway Jewelry & Pawn and Pawn Bank, have met the criteria of the new law, City Attorney Reid Betzing told council in a July 27 study session, but Old Steel Historical Firearms and Triple J Armory have not.
“They haven’t been able to complete the construction or infrastructure hardening in certain areas to comply with safe storage requirements,” Betzing told council.
Though the law went into effect Aug. 1, neither business will face penalties as they work toward compliance, Betzing said.