Colorado: "In Senate, high noon for gun bill"

[cuchulainn]

http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/legislature/article/0,1299,DRMN_37_1762710,00.html

In Senate, high noon for gun bill

By John J. Sanko, Rocky Mountain News
February 22, 2003

State senators face another battle over guns when they return to the Capitol next week with a law for carrying concealed weapons likely to be on their agenda.

A bill by Sen. Ken Chlouber, R-Leadville, that would impose a statewide system for sheriffs to follow in issuing permits emerged from the Senate Appropriations Committee Friday on a 6-4 vote.

Chlouber said he hopes he might bring it to the Senate floor as early as Monday.

Also awaiting senators is a final vote on a bill that won preliminary approval this week: SB 25, which pre-empts any local gun ordinance dealing with the sale, purchase or possession of a firearm that a person could own under state or federal law.

Chlouber, who has been trying for nearly a decade to get a concealed-carry law on the books, said his SB 24 is a middle-ground approach.

Colorado law now allows individual sheriffs and police chiefs to issue permits to carry concealed guns. Permit policies vary widely from one jurisdiction to another.

"I'm not into the pro-gun, anti-gun argument," Chlouber said. "What I'm presenting to the people of Colorado, regardless of what their perspective is on carrying concealed weapons, is a procedure that is far better than the one that is on the books today."

His bill requires that an applicant be 21, a resident of Colorado, pass a course in handgun use and safety, and clear a criminal background check.

Permits could not be issued to anyone with a criminal background, drug or alcohol problems, mental incapacitation or a restraining order against them.

"After you've done all that, if the sheriff knows you're going to be a danger to yourself or somebody else, he will not issue the permit," Chlouber said.

Chlouber said his bill would bar carrying concealed weapons into K-through-12 schools or in any public facility such as the Denver City and County Building, where there is electronic screening of everyone who enters.

Among those opposed to the bill is the Colorado Municipal League.

"We want clear authority for local governments to declare public facilities off-limits to permit holders," said Sam Mamet, the league's associate director.

"We don't want (guns) in a rec center," Mamet said. "The bill isn't clear in that regard, so we're going to ask the Senate to consider some amendments to make that clear."

Mamet said the league appreciates Chlouber's efforts to amend the bill to bar guns where there is electronic screening in effect.

2003 © The E.W. Scripps Co.

 

[Blackhawk]

Almost "shall issue" and a good step forward. Good luck, CO!

 

[Leatherneck]

Among those opposed to the bill is the Colorado Municipal League.

Sounds like a carbon copy of the Northern Virginia situation that (hopefully) will be rectified when the Governor signs off on the preemption bill just passed by the Legislature. What is it about these local municipal authorities that causes them to think they know better than the state legislators and their constituents? Is it just human nature trying to be big fish in a little pond? That's what it looks like to me. Pond scum is more apt.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Standing Wolf]

What is it about these local municipal authorities that causes them to think they know better than the state legislators and their constituents?

Leftists believe their irrational hoplophobia trumps the nation's civil rights.

 

[CaesarI]

Colorado Resident (sometimes) here.

The "Colorado Municipal league" is shorthand for "Denver". Colorado pretty much breaks down like this:
If its Boulder or Denver, they hate guns, guns are bad and scary, you could have a signed letter from your husband claiming he'll kill you, and they won't issue you a permit.

Outside of Denver... "hey you want a permit?" "Sure" "well here ya go"


This law is BS, it doesn't go far enough. The line about :

"After you've done all that, if the sheriff knows you're going to be a danger to yourself or somebody else, he will not issue the permit," Chlouber said.

Essentially means Denver will still not issue permits to anyone cause they're a bunch of commie SOBs.

-Morgan

 

[KarlG]

"We don't want (guns) in a rec center," Mamet said.

Where I went to college, the weight room was previously an indoor shooting range in the basement of the "new gym".

I think it would have been cool to have guns in the rec center. Just another form of recreation.