We got screwed again, this just post by RMGO.COM
With Sen. Bob Hagedorn and Gail Schwartz joining the majority of the
Democrat's anti-gun caucus, the Senate passed HB1174,
which continues the practice of allowing Sheriffs to put concealed
carry permit holders in a statewide criminal database.
Dem Sens. Isgar and Tochtrop voted with Senate Republicans to kill the
bill.
Last week, an amendment passed that sunsetted this database in four
years, as opposed to making it permanent. That means
the Sheriffs Association must re-pass it four years from now.
Since it had an amendment in the Senate, the bill is not yet on the way
to the Governor's desk (as reported by CSSA).
Instead, the House must re-adopt the Senate version or the bill must go
to a conference committee. Either way, there is
little hope of killing this bill.
CSSA got another thing wrong, and it's DESPERATELY wrong: they
inaccurately claimed that two Senators switched sides from
their "usual pro-gun stance" to vote for the bill.
Sen. Bob Hagedorn and Gail Schwartz both did, indeed, vote for this gun
control bill, but neither have a solid record of
being pro-gun. This is Schwartz's first legislative session, and has
only cast one vote (a standing, non-recorded vote on
HB1174) which could be considered "pro-gun". Every other indication is
that she will vote with Denver liberals when it
comes to our constitutional rights.
Hagedorn, on the other hand, has many years of legislative experience.
And most of his votes are bad -- he votes pro-gun
on a few easy votes (we call those "softballs"), but on the tough votes
he always sides with the rabid anti-gunners. Our
legislative scorecard for him is extremely poor, despite the NRA
hailing him as a hero (we scanned a page from the 1998
election issue of the American Rifleman that praises Hagedorn as a
great vote, which can be viewed in the online version of
this e-mail at http://www.rmgo.org/alerts/2007-hb1174senate.shtml ).
It's what we call "Credentialing our Enemies".
Make no mistake about it: this is a major problem. Calling a
weak-willed politician "pro-gun" gives him/her a virtual
license to vote against gun owners, especially when the politician is a
Democrat who doesn't want to be known as a
conservative.
As the saying goes, it took Nixon to go to China. (i.e. only someone
perceived to be tough on communism could meet with
the Chinese and survive it politically)
Anyone remember Sen. Dottie Wham of Denver? She was the Republican who
was the main roadblock to passing a concealed carry
law a decade ago. As chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary, Wham had
enormous power, power that was given to her by a long
line of spineless Republicans like Ted Strickland, Tom Norton and Ray
Powers (all NRA endorsed pols).
Wham had the NRA's highest rating, and even their endorsement, though
everyone knew she was a disaster on the gun issue
(again, you can see that rating at
http://www.rmgo.org/alerts/2007-hb1174senate.shtml )
Praise and high ratings for anti-gunners?
Why would a pro-gun organization do this? Why label a weak politician
"pro-gun" when you know there are likely to vote
against you, either now or in the future?
They -- the NRA and their state affiliates -- think that saying nice
things about politicians makes them more likely to
vote with you. But look at this year's example: after Republican Sens.
Kester and Taylor voted against gun owners in a
surprise turnabout on SB34, the NRA and RMGO attacked these Senators
with a vengence. At their very next chance, both of
these Senators scrambled to get back in the good graces of gun owners.
I give the NRA (largely due to a new NRA-ILA
lobbyist in Colorado) high marks for putting the heat on Kester and
Taylor. Now, let's (we're being kind here, as we've
never trusted them) not be dumb enough to trust them again.
This "Credentialing" is even worse when Republicans are in charge. The
attempt is to get votes with the carrot, but an
elementary level observance of the public policy process shows the
stick to be much, much more effective.
Credentialing is taken to new heights of stupidity when "gun lobbies"
have suspect politicians carry their legislation.
You've put a politician who has made a living out of being a swing vote
on your issue in the position of driving your
legislation. Nothing could be more suicidal.
Don't think that happens? Remember: HB1174's main sponsor is GOP State
Rep. Al White, who was the NRA's concealed carry
law sponsor in 2003.
Then there's the practice of thanking politicians after they vote
pro-gun, which is just as inane. After all, you don't
thank your neighbor each week after he refrains from raping your
family, and you shouldn't thank a politician for not
raping your constitutional rights.
The only thing a politician fears is being defeated in the next
election. Remove that fear -- by talking nice about them
-- and their vote is subject to the whims of the media, some
loudmouthed anti-gun constituents, or any other wind that
blows.
The only elected officials who should be praised or thanked should be
the rock-ribbed type who don't need lobbying, and who
take courageous steps to advance or defend our rights. There are very
few of these, and we're careful to point them out
when they appear.
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Friends, this has NOT been a good session. The database bill appears
to be heading to the Governor's desk, where it may
sit alongside the bill that monkeys with Colorado's reciprocity law,
SB34. We are still facing a bill that taxes a
constitutional right (SB109, which assesses a fee for a Brady
Registration check), which could be heard by the Senate late
this week or next. We'll keep you abreast.
Dudley Brown
Executive Director
Direct Office Line 970-842-3006
Toll-free line 888-874-3006
Mobile Phone 970-380-3006
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Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
Colorado's Largest Gun Rights Organization
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PO Box 3006
Brush, Colorado 80723
Phone & Fax (888) 874-3006
http://www.rmgo.org
