Well, I'll leave it to the folks from Colorado to comment in detail, but Mauser continues to prove he's an idiot - equating the gun industry with tavern keepers; and Webb comes off as another know-nothing politician.
http://www.insidedenver.com/legislature/0527guns1.shtml
2 arms bills OK'd; secret permits vetoed
By John Sanko
Denver Rocky Mountain News Capitol Bureau
Gov. Bill Owens vetoed a bill Friday that would have kept secret the names of people with concealed-weapons permits.
But the governor signed two bills that protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits and allow motorists to carry weapons while driving through Denver and other jurisdictions.
"We're two for three. That's wonderful news," said Jim Winchester, vice president of the Colorado Shooting Association.
Earlier this year, Owens signed bills reinstating Colorado's criminal background check on gun buyers and cracking down on people who buy guns for felons or children.
But the three gun-rights bills were measures he did not seek.
Tom Mauser, whose son was killed at Columbine High School and who has become a spokesman for SAFE Colorado — a group trying to get a gun show background check on the November ballot — was pleased with the veto. But he was disappointed the governor signed a bill giving immunity to the gun industry.
"We think it really sets a bad precedent," Mauser said. "Drunk drivers don't have immunity from negligence. The taverns that serve the drunk drivers don't have such immunity. I don't know of any other industry that is given this broad immunity.
In signing the measure, Owens said he does not believe that the gun industry should be held responsible for someone's misuse of a legal product and hopes the bill will reduce "frivolous" lawsuits.
House Minority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, condemned the signing as outrageous in view of events like Columbine.
"This type of legislation is the worst thing we can do at the legislature because it entirely benefits a small, special-interest group," Gordon said.
But gun-rights advocates argued the bill was necessary to stop harassment lawsuits.
Bill Powers, director of public affairs for the National Rifle Association, said nearly 20 states have barred such lawsuits.
Owens' signature on SB 154 ends a long battle over claims that law-abiding citizens could be arrested while driving through Denver.
Under a compromise worked out with Denver police, the bill affects only those traveling for lawful purposes through other jurisdictions.
Denver residents still would be subject to the city's tough laws on carrying guns in their cars. But the bill will create problems for police, Mayor Wellington Webb insisted.
"We will lose an important crime-fighting tool when SB 154 becomes law," Webb said.
Similarly, Winchester said that the Colorado Shooting Association is pleased Owens signed the bill. But he said the law should apply evenly to everyone.
Owens' rejection of HB 1114 was a victory for the Colorado Press Association and others who argued that police chiefs and sheriffs should not be allowed to secretly grant licenses for carrying concealed guns.
"Colorado maintains a long tradition of an open government accessible by all of its citizens," Owens said.
Sen. Ken Chlouber, R-Leadville, who sponsored the bill, said he was not surprised.
"A good politician doesn't want to argue with people that buy ink by the barrel," Chlouber said.
Contact John Sanko at (303) 892-5404 or at
sankoj@RockyMountainNews.com.
http://www.insidedenver.com/legislature/0527guns1.shtml
2 arms bills OK'd; secret permits vetoed
By John Sanko
Denver Rocky Mountain News Capitol Bureau
Gov. Bill Owens vetoed a bill Friday that would have kept secret the names of people with concealed-weapons permits.
But the governor signed two bills that protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits and allow motorists to carry weapons while driving through Denver and other jurisdictions.
"We're two for three. That's wonderful news," said Jim Winchester, vice president of the Colorado Shooting Association.
Earlier this year, Owens signed bills reinstating Colorado's criminal background check on gun buyers and cracking down on people who buy guns for felons or children.
But the three gun-rights bills were measures he did not seek.
Tom Mauser, whose son was killed at Columbine High School and who has become a spokesman for SAFE Colorado — a group trying to get a gun show background check on the November ballot — was pleased with the veto. But he was disappointed the governor signed a bill giving immunity to the gun industry.
"We think it really sets a bad precedent," Mauser said. "Drunk drivers don't have immunity from negligence. The taverns that serve the drunk drivers don't have such immunity. I don't know of any other industry that is given this broad immunity.
In signing the measure, Owens said he does not believe that the gun industry should be held responsible for someone's misuse of a legal product and hopes the bill will reduce "frivolous" lawsuits.
House Minority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, condemned the signing as outrageous in view of events like Columbine.
"This type of legislation is the worst thing we can do at the legislature because it entirely benefits a small, special-interest group," Gordon said.
But gun-rights advocates argued the bill was necessary to stop harassment lawsuits.
Bill Powers, director of public affairs for the National Rifle Association, said nearly 20 states have barred such lawsuits.
Owens' signature on SB 154 ends a long battle over claims that law-abiding citizens could be arrested while driving through Denver.
Under a compromise worked out with Denver police, the bill affects only those traveling for lawful purposes through other jurisdictions.
Denver residents still would be subject to the city's tough laws on carrying guns in their cars. But the bill will create problems for police, Mayor Wellington Webb insisted.
"We will lose an important crime-fighting tool when SB 154 becomes law," Webb said.
Similarly, Winchester said that the Colorado Shooting Association is pleased Owens signed the bill. But he said the law should apply evenly to everyone.
Owens' rejection of HB 1114 was a victory for the Colorado Press Association and others who argued that police chiefs and sheriffs should not be allowed to secretly grant licenses for carrying concealed guns.
"Colorado maintains a long tradition of an open government accessible by all of its citizens," Owens said.
Sen. Ken Chlouber, R-Leadville, who sponsored the bill, said he was not surprised.
"A good politician doesn't want to argue with people that buy ink by the barrel," Chlouber said.
Contact John Sanko at (303) 892-5404 or at
sankoj@RockyMountainNews.com.