DA McCann Testifies in Support of Gun Legislation

DENVER — Denver District Attorney Beth McCann testified today at the Colorado State Capitol in support of House Bill 24-1348, which would prohibit knowingly leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle unless the firearm is stored in a locked hard-sided container that is not left in plain view or that is in the locked trunk of the vehicle.

A long-time proponent of sensible gun laws to make Denver a safer city and Colorado a safer state, DA McCann highlighted several important facts during her testimony, including:

• Unsecured guns in vehicles are a major source of stolen guns in our communities and those guns are often then used to commit other crimes.
• The most recent data from Denver Police shows that 506 guns were stolen from vehicles in 2022, 511 in 2023, and 62 in the first 2 ½ months of 2024.
• During those same years and months, 456 guns were stolen in home burglaries, which is less than half the number of guns stolen from vehicles.  A bill that was approved by the legislature in 2021, which requires safe storage of guns inside a home, likely contributed to a decrease in guns being stolen in home burglaries.

“As District Attorney, I see the tragedy and heartbreak of gun violence almost every single day and constantly hear from people who are begging us to do something about it.  This bill is a simple and effective way to address gun violence in our communities without interfering with the right of people to own guns.  Instead, it simply reduces the chances that a person’s guns will be stolen and used to commit other crimes and hurt other people,” said DA McCann.

About the Denver DA’s Office:

Our mission is to professionally and competently prosecute crimes and investigate criminal activity on behalf of the people of the State of Colorado and to seek equal justice for all in the criminal justice system. Our mission includes the prevention and deterrence of crimes, support of the well-being of victims, participation in the community, transparency, accountability, and improvement of the criminal justice system to provide fair alternatives to incarceration in appropriate cases.

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