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Open Carry Law At Center Of Lawsuit Against Englewood

By Rick Sallinger

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- A federal lawsuit has been filed by a man who claims Englewood police violated Colorado's open carry law. Officers arrested him and took his firearms.

In the lawsuit against the City of Englewood, Westin Sandberg claimed he was detained for four hours in 2014 and his pistol and ammunition were illegally seized. Charges against him were dropped.

Ironically his attorney, David Lane, doesn't like the open carry law.

"Personally I think it's societal insanity that people are allowed to do this but that is the law," said Lane.

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File photo of a person holding a gun. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Open carry is allowed in Colorado but not in the City and County of Denver. CBS4's Rick Sallinger met Justin Barber at a gas station one day in Lakewood while he was wearing a gun on his hip.

"We're out here supporting our constitutional rights so we figure that's one way to show what we believe in, what we support," said Barber.

Open carry can be confusing to law enforcement. In Colorado Springs, a woman called police to report a man carrying a rifle last fall. The dispatcher told her it was okay under the law. The man with the rifle shot and killed three people and even shot at police.

As for Sandberg, Lane said he is trying to make a point, "Far greater than open carry is when the government can do whatever it wants unchecked."

The assistant city manager for Englewood said they have not yet been served with the lawsuit so they cannot comment at this time.

CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.

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