Over the past twelve years Democrats in Colorado have repeatedly placed new restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms; bans on "large capacity" magazines, "red flag" laws, "universal" background checks, and more. They've even undone the state's firearm preemption law so local governments can implement gun control laws that are more restrictive than state law. 

For most of that time, violent crime has trended up across the state, thanks in large part to the Democratic majority's refusal to get tough on offenders. The latest example? The arrest of a Denver man on multiple charges who arguably should have been behind bars instead of preying on the public.

The man accused of trying to abduct a girl walking to school in Westminster in late October was allegedly involved in multiple crimes that same day, according to his arrest affidavit.

Charges were filed against Jeremiah Samuel Mullins, 31, of Denver on Oct. 25, a few hours after the alleged attempted abduction. He faces charges of aggravated robbery, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, aggravated motor vehicle theft and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.

According to police, about an hour before Mullins allegedly tried to kidnap the 14-year-old girl who was walking to school he allegedly tried to carjack a man in Thornton, Colorado at gunpoint. Then, a few hours after the attempted abduction, Mullins allegedly tried to abduct another woman and her baby, once again at gunpoint. The woman was able to run to her apartment and get inside before the would-be kidnapper drove off.

The following day Mullins allegedly carjacked a woman in Westminster, but couldn't figure out how to start her electric vehicle. When police investigated the crime, they found footage of a gold Suburu that had been reported stolen two days earlier, and discovered that an officer had stopped the car on October 24.

The driver, who handed the officer an ID card for Jeremiah Mullins, said he got the car from a friend and was not sure who it was registered to. After the officer told the driver to stay put as he walked back to his patrol car, the driver pulled away. The officer followed as the suspect reached 70 mph in a 40 mph zone and, after an unsuccessful attempt to stop the suspect with a spike strip, police stopped the pursuit, according to the affidavit.

Footage from this incident showed that the car had bumper stickers, a sticker on the driver's side rear window, a temporary tag and matched the description of the cars used during the robberies in Thornton, the affidavit reads.

When police searched for Mullins in their database, they discovered he had a parole warrant related to a 2019 carjacking.

As it turns out, that wasn't his only previous offense. 

At 5:39 p.m. on Oct. 25, police issued a bulletin asking all law enforcement to be on the lookout for Mullins and the Subaru. Barely five minutes later, a Westminster police officer found the car at a motel parking lot. The officer saw a man, whom he identified as Mullins, get out of the car. A second officer arrived in an unmarked car and also identified the man as Mullins. The officers believed he had a gun in his pocket, according to the affidavit.

Police made a plan to arrest him and he was taken into custody. They found a small caliber semi-automatic handgun in his pants pocket, the affidavit reads. Because Mullins had been convicted of a robbery in 2020, he was not allowed to possess a weapon.

In just the past five years Mullins has been convicted or pleaded guilty to carjacking and robbery. So why wasn't he behind bars? And why didn't any of Colorado's gun control laws prevent him from illegally obtaining a gun? 

Colorado's soft-on-crime approach has made the state a more dangerous place, and the restrictions placed on lawful gun owners have made it more difficult for good citizens to protect and defend themselves and their loved ones. I don't know that we'll see much of an electoral shift this election cycle, but until voters chart a different course, we're likely to see more ridiculous outcomes like this.