Next Steps in Colorado Gun Control Legislation - Key Democrat Senators in Colorado Assembly

[JVC]

Hello,

As readers of this forum know, the four bills passed by the Colorado House Democrats are heading to the Senate. Committee hearings in the Senate are expected to begin next week. For reference, those bills are:

HB-1224: Bans all magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
HB-1226: Bans armed self-defense on college campuses; expanding criminal safe-zones to all state college and university campuses.
HB-1228: Imposes a Jim Crow-style gun tax on all purchases. This legislation has no limit on the amount the CBI could charge for a background check.
HB-1229: Bans the private sale of firearms and institutes universal background checks/gun registration for all Colorado gun owners.

This information comes from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) association. Providing financial support to the NRA is important, obviously, but I would strongly encourage you to consider giving to RMGO at RMGO.org, if you haven't done so already. This organization is focused intently on Colorado and knows the ins-and-outs of the Colorado Assembly better than the NRA. The Dems hold a 20-15 majority, but bills can be stopped if only three Democrats can be persuaded to vote with the Republicans.

RMGO identified these three State Senators as key to these bills passing the Senate:

• Cheri Jahn, District 20 Democrat representing Jefferson County cheri.jahn.senate@state.co.us, 303-866-4856
• Jeanne Nicholson, District 16 Democrat representing Boulder, Denver, Gilpin and Jefferson counties jeanne.nicholson.senate@state.co.us, 303-866-4873
• Angela Giron, District 3 Democrat representing Pueblo County angela.giron.senate@state.co.us, 303-866-4878

Of course, please contact your State Senator today! And, if you are so-inclined, politely contact the above three Senators and let them know how you would like them to vote on the upcoming measures. I do not have information on which committees the bills will be assigned for hearings to hear testimony, but will try to pass that along when I can.

Emails are good, but nothing says "you care" more than a handwritten letter or even a visit to the office of your State Senator. It is as critical to show up to the Senate hearings and votes as it was the House. Don't give up! Let's take our views to our State Senators in a respectful and principled fashion, but leave no doubt with them where you stand on these bills.

Best regards - JVC

[Ronin13]

From her own mouth- Senator Nicholson said she is undecided until she hears more form her constituents (supposedly, but she's a Democrat AND a politician, so I don't believe anything she says)... keep the pressure on!

[muddywings]

from what I heard from the Pueblo townhall over the weekend (didn't go), Giron will side with her party.
I think the Durango approach of recall will be our best option and we'll have to win the state back in '14.

[JVC]

Thanks for the updates. For whatever reason, the Dems are all falling in line with the party on this issue. Recent articles and Op/Ed pieces in various newspapers seem to suggest that the Democrats do not believe that this is 1994 all over again. They are making the calculation that Newtown "changed everything" and the vast majority of the country has turned the corner in favor of increased gun control. At the Federal level, thankfully we have enough Republicans in the House and a 2A supporter in charge of the Senate (say what you will about Harry Reid from Nevada, but he is not letting gun control legislation on the Senate floor for a vote...yet).

I am speculating that the White House is encourging Colorado Democrats to push ahead, that times have changed and this is the "right thing" to do. That means we have to be extra vigilant and motivated. We need to let them politely know that passing these bills will be like smacking a bee hive, and that we will work tirelessly to defeat them with generous contributions of time, money and enthusiasm.

[ghettoblaster]

Got an email from Senator Michael Bennett today basically telling me that my 2A rights are gonna be flushed because I don't need "military grade weapons" or some horse shit. It's always "Guns did this" and not "A crazy person did this". Haven't heard a word back from any state representatives/senators. Kinda feels like they are done listening, at least to me anyway.

[merl]

My senator cancelled his town hall that was to be tonight in Erie. Has given up even the pretense of listening.

[DHC]

Thanks for the updates. For whatever reason, the Dems are all falling in line with the party on this issue. Recent articles and Op/Ed pieces in various newspapers seem to suggest that the Democrats do not believe that this is 1994 all over again. They are making the calculation that Newtown "changed everything" and the vast majority of the country has turned the corner in favor of increased gun control. At the Federal level, thankfully we have enough Republicans in the House and a 2A supporter in charge of the Senate (say what you will about Harry Reid from Nevada, but he is not letting gun control legislation on the Senate floor for a vote...yet).

I am speculating that the White House is encourging Colorado Democrats to push ahead, that times have changed and this is the "right thing" to do. That means we have to be extra vigilant and motivated. We need to let them politely know that passing these bills will be like smacking a bee hive, and that we will work tirelessly to defeat them with generous contributions of time, money and enthusiasm.

No need for speculation. Biden made a public announcement of his contact with various freshman Democrats in the Colorado statehouse just a few weeks ago - encouraging them to remain strong in the face of the opposition they are receiving.

Obama and company are using their bully pulpit to best advantage in pushing their agenda.

[d_striker]

I read somewhere that Lois Tochtrop (D-District 24) was on the fence as well.



lotochtrop@aol.com

[jslo]

Response from my State Senator

[TFOGGER]

They're all (the Democrats, anyway) pretending that they haven't seen the bills yet because they haven't actually been read in committee. I think they're hoping that the gnatlike attention spans of the general public extend to us, and we'll conveniently forget about the issue so they can do as they like without repercussions. Boy, are they in for a surprise...