Colorado Dems want to hold gunmakers liable in attacks (And Much More)

The Gazette ^ | February 05, 2013 9:35 AM | MEGAN SCHRADER

[Red Steel]

DENVER — Surrounded by the survivors and the families of victims from three of the most horrific mass murders in U.S. history, Democrats on Tuesday unveiled their blue print for comprehensive gun-control legislation.

In addition to often talked about measures such as universal background checks for all gun purchases and limiting high-capacity magazines to 10 rounds of ammunition, a new bill was promised — one that would make gun owners, sellers and manufacturers strictly liable for the death and destruction caused by military style assault rifles.

Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, said his bill would ensure that in the future the manufacturers and sellers of assault weapons such as those used in Aurora and Sandy Hook will be held responsible for the events in civil court.

That liability will result in industry changes on how the weapons are manufactured and sold, he said.

“There’s enough profit here that they can figure out how to get this accomplished,” said Morse, former Fountain chief of police. “The classic case, if you will, of strict liability is transporting dynamite. You are strictly liable — if something goes wrong it’s up to you. Does that mean we don’t transport dynamite? No, we’ve found ways to make sure nothing ever goes wrong.”

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, called Morse’s proposal the most egregious of the extreme gun control policies presented Tuesday.

He likened it to holding a brewery, the distributor and the convenience store responsible for a drunken driving crash.

“There are real consequences to passing bills like these,” Brophy said.

Morse said he is a week away from filing the actual language of his bill.

Other bills are closer to being ready.

Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, said she will introduce a bill that would limit high-capacity magazines to 10 rounds of ammunition — a move that she said would save lives when attacks occur.

“High capacity magazines are designed for one thing, to kill large numbers of people as quickly as possible,” Fields said. “They are weapons of war.”

Brophy countered that limiting the magazines would do nothing to prevent their use, pointing out they are sold as standard issue with assault weapons and are prevalent on the streets.

And if they ban them, Brophy said, criminals will only make their own.

“Barring this is only going to keep law abiding citizens from having them, it wouldn’t keep them out of the hands of criminals,” he said.

Soldiers are given 30-bullet magazines, Fields said, while James Holmes used a 100-round magazine — that reportedly jammed — when he killed 12 people in an Aurora movie theater last summer.

Among those killed in the theater shooting was Jessica Watt’s cousin Jonathan Blunk, a Navy veteran and father of two.

Watts, 28, detailed how gun violence has impacted her life, starting with her husband attending Columbine High School when the 1999 massacre occurred.

She said he wasn’t hurt physically but they have dealt with the emotional scars of that event.

Then in 2006, a girl she babysat for, Emily Keyes, was killed in a hostage situation at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey.

House Speaker Mark Ferrandino called Watts’ story “a sad commentary on the pervasiveness of gun violence in America.”

Ferrandino said Democrats also will seek a mandatory background check for all gun sales including those that occur between private parties.

He said lawmakers also are drafting legislation to address mental health needs in Colorado, including funding for state programs and other needs.

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Proposed Gun Laws

These eight laws were proposed Tuesday by Democrats in the House and Senate but have not been filed as legislation.

• Assault Weapons Liability — would make manufacturers, sellers, owners or possessors of military assault firearms, strictly liable for any death or injury resulting from the weapon.

• Universal Background Checks — would require background checks for all gun buyers, including those who purchase from individual sellers, and would enhance mental health sharing data between state and federal agencies.

• High-Capacity Magazine Ban — A ban on the sale or ownership of any ammunition feeding devices capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

• Mental Health Support — would direct mental health professionals to notify the Colorado Bureau of Investigation of individuals who are a danger to themselves or others so they could be put in a database and rendered unable to purchase a firearm.

• Domestic Violence Prohibition — would prohibit individuals convicted of domestic violence or currently under a protective order from possessing firearms.

• In-Person Training — Prohibits training online for concealed carry permits.

• Background Check Fee — establishes a $10 fee for anyone undergoing a background check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to obtain a firearm.

• Campus Safety — prohibits concealed carry on college campuses in Colorado.

[bikerman]

Does that mean I can sue the manufacturers of my silverware for causing me to gain weight??

[Red Steel]

Some think these Moroons are looking for the Dem skids to be greased as they aspire for higher office if they pass these idiotic Colorado laws.

[mrsmel]

I like TMI posts, they give depth to the point.

[ScottinVA]

God-d**ned insanity. Should United and American Airlines been held “responsible” for the attacks on 9/11? How about the makers of the boxcutters?

Liberalism truly is a mental disease.

[Logical me]

Communists America on the way. America if being destroyed.

[ANGGAPO]

What is the difference between the AR-15 and a Remington auto-loader? Answer,,,The AR -15 is an ugly gun and the Remington is not ugly. Forgive me if it is not the Remington but they work the same way.

[Gaffer]

They aren’t expecting all this to pass. At most, they are hoping to get an AWB and magazine size limit. What they are REALLY after is universal checks. No matter how you cut it, they’ll INSIST this has to be tracked. This is registration and that is just confiscation not yet accomplished.

They’ll say it’s just a registry of “law abiding citizens” what’s wrong with that? They’ll say they aren’t going to confiscate anything, it’s all grandfathered! They’ll say you have nothing to fear if you obey the laws. Until the next Newtown, or Aurora or some other whacked-out Democrat educated nutball breaks existing laws and kills a bunch of kids.

Law-abiding...you have nothing to fear. We just want to ‘track’ you......that’s what Hitler said when he made the Jews sew those little yellow stars on their coats....

[GreenHornet]

Does that mean I can sue the manufacturers of my silverware for causing me to gain weight??

Yes. You can also sue the company that made the dishes that you used, as well as the manufacturer of your stove and refrigerator. Also, have your lawyer go after the supermarket where you bought your groceries, and the farmers who originally produced the food. You're going to be a very wealthy individual!

[Red Steel]

What is the difference between the AR-15 and a Remington auto-loader?

Not much.

Maybe we should publicly cover the guns in pink color to make the DUmmies feel better.

[familyop]

There's also a bill introduced in Congress for mandatory mental health reporting from the states to the NCIC. There's already a mandatory 5-year federal prison sentence under the Violence Against Women Act for possessing firearms/ammunition while subject to a restraining order. Some restraining orders are based on allegations yet permanent (judges' discretion).

Those are the incremental moves toward eventually banning everyone from owning firearms. Too many voters are involved in minor domestic violence and mental health situations. If the new bills are passed, affected voters will lobby and vote against the rest of us, IMO. Many veterans may also be caught up in being banned by allegation. And which group will be banned from possessing firearms or ammunition next?

[familyop]

"Assault Weapons Liability — would make manufacturers, sellers, owners or possessors of military assault firearms, strictly liable for any death or injury resulting from the weapon."

That one wouldn't even work in court. It's already failed.

"Universal Background Checks — would require background checks for all gun buyers, including those who purchase from individual sellers, and would enhance mental health sharing data between state and federal agencies."

That one won't pass. It was written to fail.

Those are the straw men, written to get attention and be knocked down. During the '90s, there were the VAWA and the Million Mom March. Both were planned and backed by a very long list of business, academic and political feminist/socialist organizations. That was the beginning. They're getting what they wanted. Most of you will realize that within a couple of years or so.

[Red Steel]

RMGO has updated their bill watch webpage with the latest DUmb gu grab and growing wish list.

Updated 02/06/13

Strongly OpposeStrongly OpposeStrongly Oppose RMGO Oppose  or Support	Bill Number	Sponsors	Subject (check bill for official full title)	Location (where is the bill, as of update)	Status
Strongly Support	SB 9	Sen. Scott Renfroe/Sen. Ted Harvey/Rep. Lori Saine	Authorization for Concealed Carry in Public K-12 Schools	Senate Judiciary Comm.	Dead
Strongly Support	SB62	Sen. Kent Lambert/Rep. Lori Saine	Civil Liability for No-Firearms Businesses	Senate Judiciary Comm.	Dead
Strongly Oppose	HB 1043	Rep. Mike Foote	Definition of a Deadly Weapon	House Judiciary Comm.	In committee--Scheduled for hearing on Thur, Feb 7 at 1:30PM, room 0112
Strongly Support	HB 1048	Rep. Justin Everett/Sen. Kevin Grantham	Use of Deadly Force in a Place of Business(expansion of "castle doctrine")	State, Veterans & Military Affairs Comm.	Dead
Strongly Support	HB 1085	Rep. Perry Buck/Sen. Scott Renfroe	Change Posession of Weapons by Previous Offender	House Judiciary Comm.	In committee--Scheduled for hearing on Thur, Feb. 7 at 1:30PM, room 0112
Strongly Support	HB 1169	Sen. Greg Brophy/Rep. Steve Humphrey	Brady Bypass for Permit Holders	State, Veterans & Military Affairs Comm.	Currently waiting for a hearing date
Strongly Support	SB 140	Sen. Vicki Marble/Rep. Lori Saine	No Federal Laws Concerning Colorado Firearms	Introduction Pending	In committee--Scheduled for hearing on Tue, Feb. 13 at 1:30PM, room 353
Strongly Support	HB 1162	Rep. Chris Holbert/Sen. Owen Hill	Constitutional Carry	House Judiciary Comm.	In committee--Scheduled for hearing on Tue, Feb. 19 at 1:30PM, room 0112
Strongly Support	HB 1170	Rep. Steve Humphrey/Sen. Owen Hill	Authorization of Concealed Carry in K-12 Schools	House Judiciary Comm.	In committee--Scheduled for hearing on Tue, Feb. 19 at 1:30PM, room 0112
Strongly Support	HB 1187	Rep. Lois Landgraf/ Sen. Kevin Lundberg	No New Federal Firearms Laws	State, Veterans & Military Affairs Comm	Currently waiting for a hearing date
Strongly Oppose		Sen. John Morse/ Rep. Beth McCann	"Assault Weapons"responsibility act	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it
Strongly Oppose		Rep. Rhonda Fields / Sen. Mary Hodge	"High Capacity Magazine" Ban	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it
Strongly Oppose		Rep. Claire Levy	Campus Carry Ban	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it
Strongly Oppose		Rhonda Fields/ Sen. Morgan Carroll	Mass background checks on all gun purchases	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it
Strongly Oppose		Rep. Beth McCann	Government oversight of personal mental health records	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it
Strongly Oppose		Sen. Evie Hudak/Rep. Beth McCann	Restrict Gun Access for People Accused of Domestic Violence	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it
Strongly Oppose		Sen. Lois Tochtrop/ Rep. Jenise May	Forced Additional Training Requirements to Obtain CCW Permit	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it
Strongly Oppose		Rep. Lois Courty/ Sen. Rollie Heath	Increased Tax for Gun Purchase to cover Background check	No Details	Sponsor yet to introduce but reportedly working on it

Pa /tda href= No Details

[Red Steel]

I’ve started a D head count based on comments made in the press. These three House assemblymen are likely or probable votes against anti-2nd Amendment legislation. We need 5 Dems total to defeat their bills and all the Rs to stand firm. And I’m not counting the possibility of “absent” or “present” votes.

- Vigil, Edward D Alamosa

- Garcia Leroy D Pueblo

- Mike McLachlan D Archuleta

[Red Steel]

One more ping to you... :^)

A short YouTube clip of RMGO making a statement to the Press at the state capital that they are going to go after the politicos in their districts who vote for these Unconstitutional laws.

“Dudley Brown: Gun Owners Reject Colorado Gun Bills”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YWFzYApjA9Q

[familyop]

"One more ping to you... :^)

A short YouTube clip of RMGO making a statement to the Press at the state capital that they are going to go after the politicos in their districts who vote for these Unconstitutional laws."

'Dudley Brown: Gun Owners Reject Colorado Gun Bills'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YWFzYApjA9Q"

Great video, great plan! Up here on the Range, I've met more than a few young contractors, ranchers and others, who like their firearms along with their environmentalism, "green" energy, "organic gardens," Democrat politics, partying, etc. Democrat politicians surely stand to lose them, if any of those anti-Second-Amendment bills pass. Firearms along with dire predictions about the future (dire predictions disseminated much by liberal sponsors of the mainstream media, from what I've read) are very much in style and have been for a few years.

Great plan: to talk directly to constituents in every district and let the opposition know about that in advance. A few speeches directly to constituents in advance to let the opposition know what may come is a great move, too.

BTW, regarding "partying," it might be possible that many of the constituents caught-up in minor mental and domestic quarrel issues tend to lean liberal while also valuing their Second Amendment right. From what I've seen of the local scene, liberals are certainly involved in much of the DUI business.

It's definitely wise for partying folks to put firearms and other tools away and out of reach when indulging or having little family conflicts, but should every one of them lose their constitutional rights for the rest of their lives because of one occurrence in each of their lives?

Only a little something extra to address or not, and it could be done with better rhetoric than mine.

[Terry Mross]

Every gun maker should stop selling guns in Colorado. Tell the cops if they want new guns they can go into the next state and buy them.