To Be Black and Own a Gun in Denver
These are boom times for gun sellers in Colorado, with more gun purchases reported in 2020 than in 2000, 2001 and 2002 combined, according to the Denver Post. Look a little closer at those numbers, and the story gets a little more complicated, especially for Black people in Denver. City Cast Denver guest host donnie l. betts sits down with Alton Clark, the founder of 5280 Steel, a local gun club that saw its membership double in the past year. Then, he takes a tour of 1770 Armory and Gun Club, a new virtual firing range that opened in Five Points last September, with one of its founders, Shawn McWilliams. They discuss their personal relationships with guns, the taboo of gun ownership in the Black community, and what they think is driving the recent boom in gun sales.
To hear donnie’s production of The Knock-Kneed Man: The Story of Crispus Attucks Freedom Fighter, click here.
Want to win $100? All you have to do is tell us what you think about City Cast Denver. Take our listener survey, and you’ll be entered to win! https://denver.citycast.fm/survey/
Get the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/
Get the tweets: @CityCastDenver
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Is Childcare About to Get Cheaper? Plus, Local Venue Workers Unionize and What If Nightclubs Were Open Until 4 A.M.?
Parents and daycare providers have been sounding the alarm that childcare in Denver is expensive, hard to find, or hard to provide. This...
Would You Take the Bus to DIA? Plus, Long Lines at Water World and Colorado’s Road Rage Problem
Widening Peña Boulevard is still very much on the table, but DIA officials have recently agreed to explore options beyond just making mor...
Did the Media Give Sen. Hickenlooper a Pass? Plus, Turnover at Denver Central Market and GOP Voters Choose Victor Marx
Victor Marx is officially the Colorado Republican nominee for governor. The former marine who claims he’s performed exorcisms is now task...
Denver’s Best Burgers, a Jazzy New Wine Bar, and MAKFam’s Anticipated Expansion
Is a burger really a burger without cheese? Can a traditional patty compare to a smash patty? Does a burger taste better when it comes ou...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Does Denver Have a ‘Perfect’ Airport? — Presented By City Cast Denver
There’s lots to love about Denver, but being able to get in and out of it easily and cheaply can be an underrated metric of its livabilit...
RIP FirstBank, DPS’s Superintendent Wants Out, and What’s Up With the DMV?
Goodbye, FirstBank! While PNC promised a smooth transition after it acquired the legacy “Colorado bank for you” for $4.1 billion, many cu...
Can Mayor Mike Claim a Win on Homelessness? Plus, Same-y Farmers Markets and McDonald's Fried Apple Pie
Did Denver really figure out how to solve homelessness? British news magazine The Economist recently touted Mayor Mike Johnston’s long-te...
City-Backed Theater Evicted, Casa Bonita Performers Allege Sexual Harassment, and LeBron to the Nuggets?
Since voting to unionize back in November of 2024, Casa Bonita performers have gone to the table 14 times to negotiate wages, security is...
What Cheap Parking Downtown Really Costs. Plus, Can BRT Be ‘Better’ on Colorado Boulevard?
Is the city’s new $5 downtown parking program worth it to Denverites? After Mayor Mike Johnston came on the show last week to talk up his...
A Phone Call With Former Sen. Gary Hart on How Politics Changed Forever
Two years ago, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi interviewed a bona fide Colorado legend – two-term former Senator Gary Hart. He was...