Reader: James Mapes deserves an apology after arrest for taking gun into theater

Yesterday, we updated the story of James Mapes, who was arrested for bringing a gun into a Thornton movie house a week after the Aurora theater shooting. Initial charges have been dismissed against Mapes, but the Adams County district attorney is now looking into the case. One reader thinks that...

By Michael Roberts

August 10, 2012

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Yesterday, we updated the story of James Mapes, who was arrested for bringing a gun into a Thornton movie house a week after the Aurora theater shooting. Initial charges have been dismissed against Mapes, but the Adams County district attorney is now looking into the case. One reader thinks that should be followed by an "I'm sorry."

James writes:

Mapes did nothing illegal or wrong. He was in lawful possession of a handgun. The municipal code that he was arrested for violating does not even consider a handgun to be a dangerous weapon. the terms are clearly defined in the code. A handgun is classified in a separate definition as a "handgun", not a "dangerous weapon" which is essentially a catchall for other weapons not specifically defined.

The only way Mapes would have committed a crime was if he was a juvenile in possession of a handgun, if he was a parolee, or if he had drawn and brandished the handgun in a threatening manner.

It was a bad arrest and an overreaction in the wake of Aurora. Mapes deserves an apology at the very least.

For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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