Douglas County commissioners aren’t waiting for Gov. Jared Polis to sign a bill banning firearms in government buildings into law.

Tuesday, the commissioners passed a resolution stating they would “opt-out” of following Senate Bill 24-131, which bans firearms in polling locations, schools, government buildings, and by lawmakers at the state Capitol.

The bill contains a provision allowing local governments to opt out of the legislation, which the commissioners did during their May 14 meeting.

A statement from the commissioners Friday said current operations at the Douglas County Justice Center and courthouse would not be affected and that commissioners had asked for a lockbox to be placed at the Justice Center to safely store firearms before entering the building.

However, the written resolution doesn’t apply to any central government building in the county.

The resolution adopted Tuesday said the board will permit people with a valid concealed carry permit to bring a concealed handgun into government buildings, but only in unincorporated Douglas County.

“The authority of this Resolution extends to all parts of unincorporated Douglas County, Colorado; it does not extend to any incorporated municipality within the County,” the resolution states.

The Justice Center, courthouse, fairgrounds, school district offices, the main branch of the public library and health department are all located in the county seat of Castle Rock, which is incorporated.

The only two buildings where the opt-out would apply appear to be a sheriff’s substation in unincorporated Highlands Ranch, which has a metal detector, and a public works office in unincorporated Sterling Ranch.

Commissioner Lora Thomas, who supports the opt out, told Colorado Politics she would discuss the resolution with the county attorney.

“Douglas County’s opting out of the requirements of the onerous SB24-131 allows visitors to county facilities and properties the ability to protect themselves as they choose,” said Thomas.

In Friday’s statement, Commission Chair George Teal said, “I’m very critical of this new state law. We are a nation that was built on the principle of the right to keep and bear arms.”

“Douglas County is a constitutional county,” added Commissioner Abe Laydon. “We support the right of people to defend themselves.”

Senate Bill 131, which seeks to ban guns in “sensitive spaces,” initially prohibited firearms in 19 locations. However, its sponsors amended the bill to limit those locations to just a handful, including polling places, childcare centers, schools, public college and university campuses, and local government offices and courthouses.

The bill was drafted against the backdrop of landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions on guns.

In a 6-3 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the court in 2022 ruled that the ability to carry a pistol in public is a constitutional right guaranteed by both the Fourteenth and Second Amendments.

While the ruling pertained specifically to concealed weapons, it has been more broadly interpreted to apply to gun regulations nationwide. It also led to legislative proposals prohibiting guns in “sensitive” places.