The Denver Rocky Mountain News - Boulder gun debate lures crowd

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Boulder gun debate lures crowd
City Hall hearing held to gather comments on proposals for curbs

By Kevin McCullen
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer


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BOULDER — The gun debate brought hundreds of impassioned opponents and supporters to Boulder's City Hall on Wednesday night.

Boulder took its first steps toward consideration of seven gun- control ordinances.

Opponents, led by the Tyranny Response Team, and supporters from the Million Mom March joined other Boulderites and non-residents.

No City Council members attended the administrative hearing, run by City Manager Ron Secrist and Deputy Police Chief Dave Hayes. City staff planned to take comments from more than 150 speakers to refine the proposals before submitting them to City Council, Secrist said.

Twenty police officers, mindful of clashes between pro- and anti-gun control forces that marred a speech by National Rifle Association President Charlton Heston at the University of Colorado this spring, turned out.

The Boulder City Attorney's Office, at the request of City Council, raised the seven proposals. One would ban assault weapons, and another would restrict gun shows.

Another ordinance would require gun owners to case their guns while in public.

Four proposals are aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of minors. City staff supported most of the laws aimed at minors. But the staff recommended rejection of a ban on assault weapons or gun-show sales.

Stuart Leach of the Boulder Rifle Club Gun questioned the legality of trying to outlaw use or possession by a minor.

"This ban pertains to an action sanctioned by the state of Colorado: hunting, a long tradition," Leach said.

Ann Coakley, whose daughter, Tara, was killed in an accidental shooting, urged council support.

But a Boulder County woman, who said she was a victim of rape and domestic violence, spoke against the proposals. She said she sometimes carries a poster to gun rallies alluding to the slaying of Nicole Brown.

"If Nicole had a gun, her kids (would) still have a mom," she said. "I will not be a Nicole."

June 22, 2000

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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...

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