Today's update form the statehouse 2/18

A quick update on the draconian gun bills that were heard today on the House Floor for final passage:

• HB-1224: Bans all magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. FINAL VOTE: 34-31 with Democrat Reps. Garcia, Lebsock, and Vigil voting NO.

• HB-1226: Bans armed self-defense on college campuses; expanding criminal safe-zones to all state college and university campuses. FINAL VOTE: 34-31 with Democrat Reps. Garcia, Lebsock, and Vigil voting NO.

• HB-1228: Imposes a Jim Crow-style gun tax on all purchases. This legislation has no limit on the amount the CBI could charge for a background check. FINAL VOTE: 33-32 with Democrat Reps. Garcia, Mitsch-Bush, Vigil, and Young voting NO.

• HB-1229: Bans the private sale of firearms and institutes universal background checks/gun registration for all Colorado gun owners. FINAL VOTE: 36-29 with Democrat Rep. Vigil voting NO.

These pieces of anti-gun legislation can still be stopped. Contact your Senator today to let them know you expect a "NO" vote on these gun control bills. You can find your Senator's contact information at http://www.rmgo.org/political/request-info/delegation . You can also get involved by volunteering in RMGO's Call to Action at http://pages.rmgo.org/2013-call-to-action/ .

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OR - Sit back and wait for the jack booted thugs to storm down your street, burst into your houses, and take the weapons you rightfully own. GROW A PAIR AND STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED TO YOU AS CITIZENS!!! To do anything less is to lay down and let the Liberals remove every freedom you have, one piece at a time.

Hopefully our senators will be smarter about these attacks on the 2nd Amendment.

"Jim Crow style tax"? Or more likely cutting off the taxpayer entitlements to gun owners.

Something the Dog Said wrote: "Jim Crow style tax"? Or more likely cutting off the taxpayer entitlements to gun owners. "Bans all private firearm sales" Pure 100% Bullsh**! Does nothing of the sort. Why not post the facts so others can decide for themselves rather than these outright lies.

Something the Dog Said wrote: "Jim Crow style tax"? Or more likely cutting off the taxpayer entitlements to gun owners.

All federal firearms and ammunitions sales include a 10% excise tax so sportsmen are already paying their fair share. Even more than Obama's tax on medical equpment sales of 3%.

Something the Dog Said wrote:

Something the Dog Said wrote: "Jim Crow style tax"? Or more likely cutting off the taxpayer entitlements to gun owners. "Bans all private firearm sales" Pure 100% bullsh**! Does nothing of the sort. Why not post the facts so others can decide for themselves rather than these outright lies.

The CBI is already paid by the taxpayer. Why an additional fee? If they are currently allocating "x" # employees to gun background checks, as part of every day business, there are 2 options. A waiting list occurs (which we currently have with this political environment), or you hire more people. The waiting list now has flexed between 3 days-10 days, which seems fine to me. Why hire more overhead for a temporary situation. If suddenly gun buyers have to pay some arbitrary fee, then we, as taxpayers, should receive $$ back from the CBI for this. That isn't the plan. They just plan on sucking up this addl $$ into the treasury.

Guns are a right, not a privilege. If I believe correctly Dog, you don't support having people pay, even a minimal amount, for a state issued ID, because that is unfair. Shouldn't you not support this addl fee either?

It does ban private firearm sales. It makes every sale now go thru a FFL dealer, which makes it into business. That is no different that requiring all broncos tickets to be sold thru the Bronco ticket exchange...for a fee of course. Private means private...between 2 people.

FredHayek wrote:

Something the Dog Said wrote: "Jim Crow style tax"? Or more likely cutting off the taxpayer entitlements to gun owners.

All federal firearms and ammunitions sales include a 10% excise tax so sportsmen are already paying their fair share. Even more than Obama's tax on medical equpment sales of 3%.

How does requiring firearm purchasers to pay for a background check constitute a "Jim Crow" style tax? This has nothing to do with imposing burdens on the poor to prevent them from voting. It just means they pay for their own purchases without a taxpayer subsidy. $8 is not a substantial "burden", it is less than half a box of cartridges.

Spare us the ridiculous hyperbole.

RenegadeCJ wrote:

Something the Dog Said wrote:

Something the Dog Said wrote: "Jim Crow style tax"? Or more likely cutting off the taxpayer entitlements to gun owners. "Bans all private firearm sales" Pure 100% bullsh**! Does nothing of the sort. Why not post the facts so others can decide for themselves rather than these outright lies.

The CBI is already paid by the taxpayer. Why an additional fee? If they are currently allocating "x" # employees to gun background checks, as part of every day business, there are 2 options. A waiting list occurs (which we currently have with this political environment), or you hire more people. The waiting list now has flexed between 3 days-10 days, which seems fine to me. Why hire more overhead for a temporary situation. If suddenly gun buyers have to pay some arbitrary fee, then we, as taxpayers, should receive $$ back from the CBI for this. That isn't the plan. They just plan on sucking up this addl $$ into the treasury.

Guns are a right, not a privilege. If I believe correctly Dog, you don't support having people pay, even a minimal amount, for a state issued ID, because that is unfair. Shouldn't you not support this addl fee either?

It does ban private firearm sales. It makes every sale now go thru a FFL dealer, which makes it into business. That is no different that requiring all broncos tickets to be sold thru the Bronco ticket exchange...for a fee of course. Private means private...between 2 people.

The CBI also has many more serious duties of which they have backlogs, including processing evidence of crime scenes, investigation of serious crimes in rural counties. The fee is not arbitrary, it is the cost as calculated by the CBI for doing gun background checks. It is the gun crowd that is complaining about the long wait times for background checks. If you are ok with the time for background checks as CBI prioritizes it's scarce resources, then I am fine with not instituting this fee. Remember, the Colorado Republicans voted to impose this same fee on gun purchasers back under Owen. It was done away with when gun purchases dropped.

Guns are not a right. You have no "right" under the 2nd Amendment to posses a gun. You do have the right for the government not to infringe upon your possession within limitations.

It is pure bullsh** to claim that the legislation "bans" private firearm sales. It does nothing of the sort. It merely requires you to do a background check on the purchaser. The FFL does not intervene in the sale, they do not participate in the sale, they do not receive any portion of the proceeds of the sale. They merely perform the background check, record the transaction, retain a copy for ATF traces and provide you with a copy. They do not charge a sales tax, they do not inform the government.

As I said before, citizens do not have a right to possess guns under the Constitution. However, they do have a right to vote. Big difference. Further, the Constitution specifically carves out voting as a singular right that may not be burdened. See the 24th amendment. No other "right" has been given that protection. If I want to assemble with my fellow citizens in Civic Center park to exercise my freedom of speech, I first have to obtain a permit, pay a fee, pay for insurance, security, bathrooms, etc. to the government. Why should the 2nd Amendment not be similarly burdened with minor fees rather than relying upon taxpayer subsidies. If I want to register my vehicle, as I am required to do if I want to use public roads, which I have already paid for, do I not have to pay fees for that privilege.

If the citizens of the US want gun owners to receive a public subsidy for their purchases, they can amend the Constitution to prohibit such fees. Otherwise, just as their are fees for exercising your 1st Amendment rights of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, there can be fees for purchasing firearms when it is in the general welfare to do so. Likewise the requirement for background checks, even between private individuals.

A 10% tax on a $1000 rifle equates to $100, so adding $8 more seems excessive to me.