On June 7, 2022, the City of Louisville joined several neighboring communities in adopting gun violence prevention ordinances that aim to reduce threats of gun violence to residents in public places and the risk of impulsive suicide or crime posed by easy-to-obtain firearms. The ordinances address assault weapons, large capacity magazines, trigger activators, and ghost guns and otherwise regulate the purchase, possession, and sale of firearms in Louisville.
Similar to the lawsuit filed against the Town of Superior in July, on August 22nd the City of Louisville was served with a lawsuit filed the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO), the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), and other named plaintiffs. The City of Boulder and Boulder County have also been served in separate lawsuits challenging provisions of their gun violence prevention ordinances. These lawsuits all challenge the bans contained in the ordinances of assault weapons and large capacity magazines, claiming such bans are unconstitutional.
Pending the outcome of this lawsuit, the Court has approved a stay of the City’s enforcement of the assault weapon and large capacity magazine bans, including the City’s assault weapon certification program. All other aspects of the City’s gun violence prevention ordinances remain in effect, including the minimum age to purchase or possess firearms; prohibitions on ghost guns, open carrying of firearms in public places, and possessing firearms in sensitive areas; and the minimum waiting period prior to the sale of firearms.
Gun violence poses a serious public threat in Boulder County and data shows that reasonable gun regulations can help reduce this risk. The City believes all of its gun violence prevention ordinances are constitutional and will defend the legality of the challenged provisions
The City will share more details as they become available.
