Republican state Rep. Don Wilson is facing criticism for accidentally leaving his loaded handgun in the bathroom of the Colorado State Capitol building earlier this week, according to reports.
No one was injured in the incident, but it brought renewed focus to a measure introduced in the state legislature back in February that aims to prohibit firearms in locations including government buildings.
“I want to be clear that I take full and complete accountability for the incident. I made a mistake and am very sorry,” Wilson said in a Thursday statement. “I take firearm safety very seriously. This is a humbling experience and I will reaffirm my commitment to responsible handling procedures.”
Security footage reportedly showed that his 9-mm. Glock was left on a shelf in the bathroom unattended for roughly 20 minutes before it was discovered by the building’s cleaning staff.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. local time, when the Capitol was closed to the public. It was later determined by Colorado State Police that Wilson did not breach any state laws in carrying the gun inside the building.
Colorado House Democrats are working to change that fact, according to Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Dem who supports the proposed gun-safety measure.
“A Republican lawmaker recklessly leaving a loaded gun in a public bathroom only demonstrates the very need for gun safety policies like the ones Democrats are fighting for,” Fenberg said.
It wasn’t the first time such an incident has occurred in the state’s Capitol building. In 2022, state Rep. Richard Holtorf accidentally dropped his gun while rushing to attend a vote in the House chamber, according to The Denver Post.
Last year, the House Natural Resources Committee rejected a Congressional amendment that would have banned guns in the committee’s hearing room.
“I feel I need one everywhere here. There are often times we are harassed in the hallways. We walk alone,” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said during a hearing on the matter, adding that it would “not be an unloaded weapon.”
