A Colorado state lawmaker on Thursday posted an apology online after earlier this week leaving a loaded firearm in a bathroom at the state Capitol in Denver.
State Representative Don Wilson wrote in a statement shared to his account on X, formerly Twitter, that his firearm was "left briefly unattended at the Capitol building" after a closed-door meeting on Tuesday night.
"I want to be clear that I take full and complete accountability for the incident," Wilson, a Republican, said. "I made a mistake and am very sorry."
The Context
According to a report by The Denver Post, Wilson was serving on the Colorado House Judiciary Committee late into the night on Tuesday when he left the loaded gun in the restroom. Wilson is a freshman lawmaker who represents Colorado's 20th District.
According to a press release from the Colorado State Patrol, which handles security at the state Capitol, a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun was found on a shelf in a single-occupancy unisex restroom at 9:21 p.m. Tuesday by a staff janitor. State Patrol officers responded to the discovery and seized the firearm at 9:26 p.m.
Wilson contacted the State Patrol at 10:14 p.m. to report leaving items in the bathroom, and video surveillance showed Wilson leaving the Capitol restroom within a half hour before the firearm's discovery. At 10:20 p.m., law enforcement returned the gun to Wilson.
What We Know
In his statement, which was dated Wednesday, Wilson thanked the Colorado State Patrol "and our Capitol staff for their hard work and professionalism in quickly responding."
"I take firearm safety very seriously," Wilson added. "This is a humbling experience and I will reaffirm my commitment to responsible handling procedures."
Colorado state prohibits some individuals from carrying weapons into the state's Capitol, but law enforcement said in the press release Thursday that "Individuals with Capitol credentials and access are permitted to carry a firearm inside the secure areas in compliance with Colorado gun laws."
Views
Colorado Democratic leadership released statements rebuking Wilson on Thursday, including state House Speaker Julie McCluskie, who said that the "consequences of leaving a firearm unattended in a public space could be very serious, and the incident this week created a dangerous situation."
"This should not have happened and cannot happen again, and this is why our caucus is pursuing legislation to prohibit carrying firearms in the Capitol," McCluskie said. "I hope Rep. Wilson appreciates the severity of his mistake and the safety concern this has created for us in the Capitol."
House Majority Leader Monica Duran said that it was "frustrating and disappointing to continually see colleagues make mistakes with their guns," as a firearm owner herself.
"Everyone who carries a firearm must do so with the utmost care at all times, which is why it is so important to me that people receive proper training and observe it and that we strengthen the requirements for a concealed carry permit," Duran said.
"I've expressed my deepest concerns to Rep. Wilson and Minority Leadership. It's my expectation that he follows through with his commitment not to carry his firearm at the Capitol," she added.
Newsweek emailed Wilson's office for additional comment Thursday.
What's Next?
The Colorado State Patrol said in its press release shared with Newsweek that "After completing an investigation into the incident it was determined by Capitol troopers that no state statutes were violated and there are no criminal charges pending as a result of this incident."
Update 04/11/24, 7:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information from the Colorado State Patrol.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Kaitlin Lewis is a Newsweek reporter on the Night Team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her focus is reporting on national ... Read more
