"The group opposing the gun measure has raised $435." What's up in Colorado?
http://www.denver-rmn.com/election/0603dona1.shtml
Group pushing gun-show measure raises $180,000
SAFE Colorado tops other PACs in funds collected and spent
By Lynn Bartels
Denver Rocky Mountain News Capitol Bureau
An organization pushing a ballot measure that would require background checks on all gun-show customers has raised nearly $180,000 even though the election is five months away.
SAFE Colorado received 472 donations ranging from $1 to a recent contribution of $40,000 from the Boston-based group the Institute for a Civil Society.
"I think it's just the beginning of the indication of what we have for support," said Tom Mauser, the group's spokesman.
The gun-lobbying organization Friday reported the most contributions and the highest expenses of all political action committees filing financial reports with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.
The group opposing the gun measure has raised $435. The Colorado State Shooting Association, the local affiliate of the National Rifle Association, has not spent any of the money raised by its political action committee, records show.
The filing deadline was June 1, and covers donations made from April 26 through May 26.
Reports also were filed by groups pushing measures that would cut taxes, require city growth plans and legalize medical use of marijuana.
Mauser said the amount of contributions is significant because his organization isn't concentrating on fund-raising. The group is focused only on collecting 64,000 signatures on initiative petitions to place their measure on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The initiative would require all gun-show customers to undergo background checks, not just those buying from federally licensed firearms dealers.
Political analyst Floyd Ciruli was surprised by the amount of money collected by SAFE so far.
"That is a substantial amount of money for an initiative that is not based on an economic interest," he said. "It's sort of ironic because this is an extremely popular initiative that may not, in fact, need a huge war chest."
SAFE Colorado received contributions totaling $37,461 during the latest reporting period. That does not include $40,000 donated after May 26.
The donations include $5,000 from Aspen resident Michael Goldberg, who owns an aircraft dealership and counts President Clinton among his friends; $2,000 from Cynthia and Richard Green of Castle Rock; $2,025 from Gwen Lillis of Castle Rock and $1,050 from Tricia and Tom Campbell of Denver.
"We don't know most of these people. The donations are coming from people's hearts," said Mauser, who became a gun lobbyist after his only son was killed in the Columbine High School rampage.
His group has spent about $47,500, mostly for salaries, printing costs and rally placards.
Here's a look at some of the other contribution reports:
Taxcut 2000, the group led by so-called tax crusader Douglas Bruce of Colorado Springs, spent nearly $7,300 of the $14,000 it has raised so far to pay people to gather signatures to put its tax initiative on the ballot.
Coloradans for Responsible Growth has received $51,850 in contributions, mostly from two major donations: $25,000 from Jay Kenney, a Denver lawyer and frequent contributor to environmental causes and Democratic candidates; and $13,950 from the Colorado Environmental Coalition.
Two groups on opposite sides of a ballot initiative that allows marijuana use for medical purposes also reported donations.
Colorado For Medical Rights 2000 reported a single contribution of $10,000 from a Santa Monica, Calif.-based group, listed as Americans For Medical Rights.
Coloradans Against Legalizing Marijuana reported $4,350 in contributions, including $2,000 from Paul Miller of Franktown and $1,000 from Frank Sargent of Littleton.
Contact Lynn Bartels at (303) 892-5405 or bartelsl@RockyMountainNews.com.
http://www.denver-rmn.com/election/0603dona1.shtml
Group pushing gun-show measure raises $180,000
SAFE Colorado tops other PACs in funds collected and spent
By Lynn Bartels
Denver Rocky Mountain News Capitol Bureau
An organization pushing a ballot measure that would require background checks on all gun-show customers has raised nearly $180,000 even though the election is five months away.
SAFE Colorado received 472 donations ranging from $1 to a recent contribution of $40,000 from the Boston-based group the Institute for a Civil Society.
"I think it's just the beginning of the indication of what we have for support," said Tom Mauser, the group's spokesman.
The gun-lobbying organization Friday reported the most contributions and the highest expenses of all political action committees filing financial reports with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.
The group opposing the gun measure has raised $435. The Colorado State Shooting Association, the local affiliate of the National Rifle Association, has not spent any of the money raised by its political action committee, records show.
The filing deadline was June 1, and covers donations made from April 26 through May 26.
Reports also were filed by groups pushing measures that would cut taxes, require city growth plans and legalize medical use of marijuana.
Mauser said the amount of contributions is significant because his organization isn't concentrating on fund-raising. The group is focused only on collecting 64,000 signatures on initiative petitions to place their measure on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The initiative would require all gun-show customers to undergo background checks, not just those buying from federally licensed firearms dealers.
Political analyst Floyd Ciruli was surprised by the amount of money collected by SAFE so far.
"That is a substantial amount of money for an initiative that is not based on an economic interest," he said. "It's sort of ironic because this is an extremely popular initiative that may not, in fact, need a huge war chest."
SAFE Colorado received contributions totaling $37,461 during the latest reporting period. That does not include $40,000 donated after May 26.
The donations include $5,000 from Aspen resident Michael Goldberg, who owns an aircraft dealership and counts President Clinton among his friends; $2,000 from Cynthia and Richard Green of Castle Rock; $2,025 from Gwen Lillis of Castle Rock and $1,050 from Tricia and Tom Campbell of Denver.
"We don't know most of these people. The donations are coming from people's hearts," said Mauser, who became a gun lobbyist after his only son was killed in the Columbine High School rampage.
His group has spent about $47,500, mostly for salaries, printing costs and rally placards.
Here's a look at some of the other contribution reports:
Taxcut 2000, the group led by so-called tax crusader Douglas Bruce of Colorado Springs, spent nearly $7,300 of the $14,000 it has raised so far to pay people to gather signatures to put its tax initiative on the ballot.
Coloradans for Responsible Growth has received $51,850 in contributions, mostly from two major donations: $25,000 from Jay Kenney, a Denver lawyer and frequent contributor to environmental causes and Democratic candidates; and $13,950 from the Colorado Environmental Coalition.
Two groups on opposite sides of a ballot initiative that allows marijuana use for medical purposes also reported donations.
Colorado For Medical Rights 2000 reported a single contribution of $10,000 from a Santa Monica, Calif.-based group, listed as Americans For Medical Rights.
Coloradans Against Legalizing Marijuana reported $4,350 in contributions, including $2,000 from Paul Miller of Franktown and $1,000 from Frank Sargent of Littleton.
Contact Lynn Bartels at (303) 892-5405 or bartelsl@RockyMountainNews.com.