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Instructors, sheriffs warn: New concealed carry law causes confusion, long lines statewide
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Instructors, sheriffs warn: New concealed carry law causes confusion, long lines statewide

By Danielle Kreutter | Denver7 DENVER — New requirements to obtain a concealed carry permit in Colorado took effect on Tuesday. Under House Bill 24-1174, applicants must complete eight hours of in-person training and education on things like safe storage and handling of weapons. There is also now a live fire training requirement. One day into the new requirements, some Colorado sheriff's offices and concealed carry instructors are reporting struggles. "We follow the letter of the law. We do cover what is required under the state requirements," said Issac Chase, co-founder of Guns for Everyone, a Colorado-based company that offers free concealed carry courses. Chase told Denver7 they received an increase in people seeking permits in the months before the new require...
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Garbo: Immigration policy should serve America, not exploit it
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Top Stories

Garbo: Immigration policy should serve America, not exploit it

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Let’s set the record straight. Immigration is not a right. Not under the U.S. Constitution. Not under international law. Not by any moral, legal, or civil standard.  It is a privilege, and one granted by a sovereign nation to those who respect its laws, value its principles, and are willing to contribute to its future.  That privilege, once respected and coveted as one of the greatest honors in the world, is now under relentless attack - distorted by entitlement, corrupted by politics, and weaponized by those who seek to benefit without belonging. To understand this clearly, let’s use a comparison everyone can relate to: driving a car. The Driving Analogy Driving isn’t a right. It’s a regulated privilege. I...
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DiGirolamo: Undercover as a 13-year-old, an officer finds what parents fear most
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Top Stories

DiGirolamo: Undercover as a 13-year-old, an officer finds what parents fear most

By John DiGirolamo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice You wouldn’t let your middle schooler wander the mall by herself, so why would you let her wander the Internet alone? If your child has online access, then every predator all over the world potentially can contact your kid.  Is this a risk that parents should be worried about? First, it’s important to understand why predators are on the Internet, online games and social media. Predators are after kids for several reasons: First, to obtain explicit material. Second, to extort someone for money and third, to meet for a sexual encounter.  Frequently, the predator may be seeking a combination of the three. Dawn Hawkins, CEO for National Center on Sexual Exploitation noted on X (formerly Twitter), “Child sexual ab...
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Critics warn Polis’ immigration law oversteps Constitution, ignores federal authority
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Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Critics warn Polis’ immigration law oversteps Constitution, ignores federal authority

By Savana Kascak | Complete Colorado DENVER—Despite repeated claims that Colorado is not a “sanctuary state” for illegal immigration, Gov. Jared Polis on May 23 signed a bill into law that both reinforces and expands Colorado’s existing protections for immigrants living in the country illegally. Senate Bill 25-276, Protect Civil Rights Immigration Status was a top priority for majority Democrats in the state legislature as they continue their attempt at isolating Colorado from the Trump administration’s deportation policies, with the bill picking up a remarkable 46 prime and co-sponsors on its way to passage. Expanded protections Colorado state law already limits interaction and information sharing between local and federal officers. However, SB 276 extends this measure to proh...
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Released and reloaded: Montrose bond records show cracks feeding Colorado’s criminal underworld
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Released and reloaded: Montrose bond records show cracks feeding Colorado’s criminal underworld

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice When a Montrose County woman was released on a $0 personal recognizance bond after skipping court in late 2023, it wasn’t her first time facing charges. It wouldn’t be her last either. Within nine months, she was arrested again – this time for second degree assault, harassment and criminal attempt. Her story is not an outlier. It is a warning. “There’s a revolving door with criminals or serious crime,” said Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard in a recent interview with RMV. “Last month we picked up one person five times – they were released on PR bond. There’s no consequences.” To illustrate how Colorado laws are contributing to rising crime and lawlessness, Sheriff Lillard prepared and shared a document showing just one small snapshot in ti...
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Activists protest deportations at Aurora ICE facility
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Activists protest deportations at Aurora ICE facility

By Vicente Arenas | Fox31 AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A group of people marched late Monday to the GEO Group’s contract holding facility in Aurora, contracted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to show their solidarity with ICE protests in Los Angeles.  Several groups called for people to gather for what they called an emergency march and protest. The organizations made their way to the GEO ICE facility, a little less than a mile from the march’s starting point. That’s where they held a vigil for immigrants who have been detained, including activist Jeanette Vizguerra. Several different Colorado organizations say they want to call attention to the immigrants being detained in Los Angeles. Araseli, an Aurora resident, said her husband is detained in th...
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10 most dangerous states to live in revealed: Colorado comes in at #2
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Approved, National, State, U.S. News & World Report

10 most dangerous states to live in revealed: Colorado comes in at #2

By Elliott Davis Jr. | U.S. News & World Report These states rank lowest for public safety based on property and violent crime rates. American Crime Both violent crime and property crime declined in the U.S. in 2023, according to estimates from the FBI, with the rate of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter dropping by about 12% and the burglary rate down by roughly 8% year over year. The rate of vehicle theft, meanwhile, rose by 12%. But the prevalence of crime – along with the perceptions and rhetoric surrounding it – can vary from state to state, shaping residents’ quality of life along with the futures of politicians and other officials charged with ensuring public safety. As part of the 2025 Best States rankings, U.S. News factored ...
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Police Chief Todd Chamberlain’s first 8 months bring sharp drop in Aurora crime
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Police Chief Todd Chamberlain’s first 8 months bring sharp drop in Aurora crime

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice The City of Aurora is seeing a significant drop in crime in 2025, a shift that many attribute to the leadership of Police Chief Todd Chamberlain. Since his appointment on September 9, 2024, Chamberlain has implemented a series of reforms aimed at targeting violent crime and increasing public trust. Property crimes have fallen by 25% year-to-date as of May 18, according to an announcement on the Aurora Police Department’s X account.  https://twitter.com/AuroraPD/status/1926716100806352912 The drop includes a 38.5% reduction in motor vehicle theft, 31% in burglary and nearly 16% in larceny. Monthly crime data from the Aurora Transparency Portal shows an average of 871 incidents per month in 2025, down from 1,260 du...
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SB276 would fine deputies $50K for helping ICE—Sheriff Mikesell says enough is enough
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local, State

SB276 would fine deputies $50K for helping ICE—Sheriff Mikesell says enough is enough

By Pat Hill | Pikes Peak Courier via Denver Gazette Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell is so concerned about the effects of Colorado Senate Bill #276 he appealed in a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week. The bill, if signed by Gov. Jared Polis, prohibits law enforcement from sharing information with the federal government about illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. At issue is the bill’s interference with Mikesell’s 287(g) agreement with ICE. The only sheriff in Colorado to have signed the agreement, Mikesell was sued over the issue by the ACLU in 2019. After a series of wins, losses and appeals by both parties, in February, Mikesell retained his ability to work with ICE to detain illegal immigrants who commit crimes. However, if the governor do...
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Polis open to signing bill restricting local ICE cooperation as Colorado sanctuary debate heats up
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

Polis open to signing bill restricting local ICE cooperation as Colorado sanctuary debate heats up

By Luige Del Puerto | Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis said that while he had "major problems" with an earlier proposal that sought to inoculate immigrants from federal policies, the bill now includes "workable language," thereby signaling his intent to sign it. The governor reiterated he is still reviewing the proposal, which underwent several changes before its final passage during the 2025 legislative session. At its core, Senate Bill 276 reemphasized existing state law that precludes local law enforcers from detaining an individual based on an "immigration detainer." An immigration "detainer" is a notice issued to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies informing the latter that agents intend to assume custody of an individual no longer subject to the former's dete...
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