Sheriff Maketa releases statement regarding gun control

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. -
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa released a statement early Tuesday morning about his explosive claim that senate Democrats threatened the salaries of sheriffs because of their gun control stance.


An Injustice Against our Citizens

Monday, March 4, 2013, was unlike any day I've experienced in my 12 years testifying at the Colorado State Capitol. During my tenure, I've had numerous opportunities to participate in legislative processes from draft proposal to signature of a bill making it law.

I've witnessed many hearings and observed citizens, law enforcement, and special interest groups share opinions on a variety of proposed laws. I've witnessed very controversial bills set in a process to allow full access from supporters, opponents, and citizens to be heard by their legislators. On numerous occasions, bills similar in nature were set for hearing on different days to ensure opportunity for anyone to participate in the deliberative process. On Monday, this didn't occur. Instead, gun bills were simultaneously scheduled and of 25 plus sheriffs, only one could testify per bill. Hearings were split so bills heard simultaneously were on different floors, even though all were heard by senate committees. Rules for testimony changed three times from Thursday afternoon through Monday at 10:30 am, when hearings began.

He goes on to say...

To add insult to injury, the following Wednesday, I received an email containing the following language from a member of County Sheriffs Of Colorado: "…I have been advised by a reliable source at the Capitol that the Dems are seriously not pleased with the CSOC positions on the gun bills, and given the potential for a real salary bill to be introduced as you shall see from a follow-up email from" (an unnamed sheriff), "support of SB197 would put us in a more favorable light for salary bill support from the Dems. I do not believe we would be sacrificing our principles or positions on the other gun bills by supporting SB197." "...Please let us know what you think on this proposal ASAP as I need to get a letter from us to the Senate Dems before the close of business today." As I see it, senate Dems have made it known, "sheriffs, obey or no pay for you." The first word that comes to my mind is extortion. Again, I'm disheartened that the pay of sheriffs is threatened to gain compliance with the majority party leadership. Local elected officials' pay is set by the legislature as stated in Colorado Law.

The rest of his letter can be found at:

http://www.krdo.com/news/Sheriff-Maketa ... index.html

Good job Colorado Democrats. You just proved again that the only way you can win is by cheating and extortion.

So an elected law enforcement officer makes a claim of extortion against Colorado Democrats based solely on an email from an unnamed individual who purports to be from the "County Sheriffs of Colorado (even though the head of that organization made a public statement that no contact on this issue was ever made to the organization) claiming that an unnamed individual told the first unnamed individual that Democrats were upset with their political stance and that they would oppose legislation raising the salary of the officer from his present $111,000 annual salary. This even though there is no such legislation proposed or even being actively considered.

I thought that law enforcement were supposed to make their claims of criminal actions based upon actual facts. This guy must be a real idiot which since he is a conservative politician, is the same thing.

Something the Dog Said wrote: This guy must be a real idiot which since he is a conservative politician, is the same thing.

Just couldn't resist, could you?

Yeah, it's kind of like the never-ending cheap-shots at the Obamas.

To believe anything coming out of the mouths of Colorado democrats, one must be a real idiot, i.e. liberal progressive. Their blatant lack of integrity and public exhibit of cowardness over the last few weeks must be really embarassing.

Pretty long letter/testimony. I actually heard most of that on a radio interview the other day. Course, to all the libs around here, he's a liar, but all the crap they post is "fact." Yep, business as usual :coffee-News:

Since Sheriff Maketa, and most of the states Sheriffs, opposed these proposed laws. yet the politicians on one side chose to ignore their expert testimony, the next time people feel threatened, call a politician. See how that works for you.

Green Mountain Guns wrote: ...the next time people feel threatened, call a politician. See how that works for you.

Nah... I'll grab my gun and shoot the S.O.B. (Since no one is coming to take it....)

It always entertains me how many think they can shoot a moving agressive opponent and don't train regularly, other than pushing keys on the keyboard.

It always entertains me how the "gun-grabbing", "War on the Second Amendment" crazies can try to persuade the low-intelligence folks that da gub'mnt is "coming to take their guns."