How to fail the attitude test

[libertarian]

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Law enforcement Monday was saying little about a routine traffic stop that may end up costing a man his handgun permit.

Mesa County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Heather Benjamin said 25-year-old David Holland’s Colorado Concealed Weapons permit is under “administrative review” following an alleged scrape with deputies.

The permit could be revoked “based on his actions” during a traffic stop shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of 30 Road and Gunnison Avenue in Clifton, Benjamin said. Benjamin wouldn’t discuss specifics of the incident, citing the review.

Attempts to reach Holland for comment were not successful.

According to a paragraph summary of the incident, Holland allegedly became “argumentative and obscene in a public place” toward a deputy who’d issued Holland a ticket for driving a defective vehicle and failure to wear a seatbelt.

The driver, armed with a concealed .38-caliber revolver, allegedly did not follow commands from deputies.

Holland, a Grand Junction resident, was given a verbal warning for disorderly conduct and failure to use a turn signal.

The deputy stopped Holland after his Volkswagen Jetta was observed northbound on 30 Road with a “badly cracked” windshield, according to the report.

Benjamin said anywhere from 1,800 to 2,000 Mesa County residents hold valid, active Colorado Concealed Weapons permits — the numbers fluctuate daily because of expirations or revocations.

From Oct. 25 through Monday, the sheriff’s office had issued 327 new permits.

The permits are valid five years and are issued to Colorado residents who are 21 years or older. State law outlines a host of factors, including a felony conviction, which make an applicant ineligible.

Regardless of qualifications to handle a firearm, state law gives sheriffs the authority to revoke or deny permits for “documented previous behavior by the applicant,” suggesting they present dangers to themselves or others, according to state law.

Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com