by Greg Walcher, Senior Policy Fellow
As Appearing in the Daily Sentinel
When the Supreme Court ruled gun bans in Washington, D.C., and Chicago unconstitutional, some activists advocated simply buying up all the ammo. Guns would be worthless, they reasoned, if no bullets were available. That would be like giving toys to children, but withholding all the batteries.
The same concept applies to Colorado’s current debate about government taking away the value of property without compensation. You may keep your private property, but government rules often limit your use of it. If compensation is not paid, that is called a “regulatory taking.” It is common everywhere, but Amendment 74 would stop it in Colorado.
The Fifth Amendment prohibits government taking private property for public purposes without just compensation. But what about taking away property’s value, not the deed itself.
