WESTCLIFFE, Colo.—Residents in the southern Colorado town of Westcliffe are divided over whether a group should carry unloaded weapons in the local Independence Day parade as a protest against new state gun laws.
The Southern Colorado Patriots Club announced its members would carry guns at the parade, prompting the Custer County Chamber of Commerce to cancel the event. The town of Westcliffe saved the parade by sponsoring it instead, but residents are split over the issue, The Denver Post reports ( ).
The Tea Party group’s recruiting flier encouraged members to “make a statement that we still believe in our Constitution” by carrying unloaded rifles at the parade, “especially the evil black ones,” slung over the shoulder.
Patriots Club members have marched in past parades with weapons, although the guns were sometimes concealed, said club member and Westcliffe town trustee Joe Cascarelli.
This year’s parade follows passage of measures to limit gun magazines to 15 rounds and to require background checks for all transfers and sales of firearms. The measures become law on Monday.
Custer County Sheriff Fred Jobe said he and several other county sheriffs will lead the Patriots group. Jobe and other sheriffs have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the gun laws.
Patriots Club marshals will ensure any guns carried in the parade are unloaded and that safeties are on, Jobe said.
“No matter what your opinions are, it’s my job to make everybody feel safe,” Jobe said. “This is one way I hope to alleviate their fears, to have people right there with (the Patriot Club).”
Chamber of Commerce president Donna Hood said the issue “has polarized this community in a week.” She added: “I’m sure safety was an interest with everybody, but I don’t really believe that the Tea Partyers were going to draw attention to themselves by shooting people going down our small town road.”
Westcliffe Mayor Christy Veltrie notes July 4 is the year’s busiest day for the town’s merchants.
“We’re not a big enough community to be divided like that,” Veltrie said.
Sister towns Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, just to the east, have about 1,000 people.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
