DENVER—Adams County authorities say they are considering state charges after the city of Thornton dropped its case against a man who walked into a movie theater with a gun nine days after the Aurora theater shootings.
James Mapes, 48, who has a concealed carry permit, was arrested July 29 in the Denver suburb for investigation of possessing a possible dangerous weapon. City statutes prohibit displaying or flourishing a firearm in an attempt to alarm people.
Mapes said he was exercising his constitutional right to carry a weapon, and the city dropped the case this week.
On Wednesday, Adams County district attorney spokeswoman Krista Flannigan told KUSA-TV prosecutors were mulling whether to file state charges against Mapes.
Many moviegoers have been jittery after 12 people were killed and 58 others were wounded at an Aurora movie theater on July 20 during a showing of the Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises.” James Holmes faces multiple counts of first degree murder and attempted first degree murder in the shootings.
Mapes said he has carried a gun into his local theater dozens of times before and that no one challenged him. “I was a threat to no one,” he said.
His attorney, Robert Wareham, said state statutes allow local governments and businesses to prohibit open carry inside buildings if a sign is posted, but that state courts haven’t ruled on what is adequate notice.
Richard Collins, a constitutional law professor at the University of Colorado, said businesses can decide whether or not to notify patrons that guns are not allowed. Collins said most business managers don’t bother to post warning signs because they don’t think it’s necessary.
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Information from: KUSA-TV,
