BTW, if you're in Denver or any of the surrounding communities, policy is that NO guns "seized for cause" will be returned. "For cause" means that the guns were seized because you broke a gun law, which in this case you did. The affirmative defense was AFTER the "legitimate" arrest.
Assuming the Governor signs these bills this week, I strongly suggest:
1) You consider a Gun Trust with your family members as Trustees. This clarifies the ownership of guns and accessories such as standard capacity magazines and allows any member of the Trust to possess same. That is what Indiana Jackson and I have done on advice of counsel. The Colorado attorney I used was Douglas Turner, who is a member of the national Gun Trust attorneys. If you and your kids are Trustees in the Gun Trust, in the example above, any Trustee can possess the items in question.
2) After the laws go into effect on 1 July 2013, I strongly suggest that you transport your guns and accessories to and from the range in LOCKED cases or containers, with your carry gun CONCEALED on your person. This is to protect you in case of an automobile accident that might allow law enforcement to see "illegal items in plain sight." A locked case will require a warrant to open, and a warrant will (hopefully) require probable cause. DO NOT under any condition allow law enforcement to search your person or your car without a warrant, and only answer the questions you're asked. The most recent high-visibility arrests for "illegal magazines" in D.C. and New York state both happened because the persons involved casually and innocently told law enforcement about the proscribed items and allowed them to search their cars. Don't do it.
3) After the laws take effect, AVOID DENVER AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BOULDER LIKE THE PLAGUE! The overwhelming majority of Colorado Sheriffs have already gone on record as NOT willing to enforce these ridiculous laws; in fact, the Colorado Sheriffs' Association is considering suing the state of Colorado if these laws go into effect. However, the cites of Denver and surrounding communities and Boulder WILL enforce these laws to the letter! In fact, I fully expect to see "sting" operations like those launched by New York State Police 48 hours after that state's draconian gun laws took effect. If you must travel through those areas — and hey, for at least the next few months I still live in Boulder County! — remember that you are in "Indian Country" and act appropriately!
Sorry to be so darn cheery...but we have to protect ourselves from this huge overreach of state powers! Yes, there will be lawsuits, but they will take quite literally years. We must take our state back in 2014!
Wolf Bane aka Michael Bane, Producer and Host, Outdoor Channel.