The time is right [for gun control]; says our governor

[CoRoMo]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/13/governor-hickenlooper-say_n_2294609.html

"I wanted to have at least a couple of months off after the shooting in Aurora to let people process and grieve and get a little space, but it is, I think, now is the time is right," Hickenlooper said.

...

Hickenlooper said the issues that merit discussion include "things like, do we all need assault weapons?" which he said are "designed for warfare" and "designed to pierce bulletproof vests and body armor."

...

"When you look at what happened in Aurora, a great deal of that damage was from the large magazine on the AR-15 (rifle). I think we need to have that discussion and say, `Where is this appropriate?'"

Here's what I'd ask you all to do... Please...

Contact a few members of our General Assembly by CLICKING HERE. Contact a few members of each the Senate and the House. Note that there are several pages there. You can contact a member of a district where you might spend vacation, ski, hunt, fish, etc. by searching by district. If you live here, you MUST get involved!

Wherever you reside, PLEASE contact a member of our state legislature and let them know how Colorado's tourist economy will be impacted from the passage of any gun control legislation.

BUT ALSO - Contact our governor by CLICKING HERE.

If there is going to be a discussion of gun control in this state, we must get out in front of it and frame the debate. It must be on our terms.

 

[BearGriz]

That is unfortunate. To all of you in Colorado, I wish you the best and I hope you all can get everyone involved.

 

[CoRoMo]

You can help!

Contact one, or many of our representatives from any house district or a senator from any senate district that you might ever have the opportunity to spend money in. Our state's economy is utterly dependent on the tourist money spent here.

Here are the senate districts: http://coloradoaeyc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2012_Senate_Districts.pdf
Here are the house districts: http://coloradoaeyc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2012_House_Districts.pdf

Find an area that you may go on vacation to or through and contact that legislator and tell them that you will no longer consider Colorado for vacationing if your firearms are restricted here.

For example, Gail Schwartz is in senate district 5 where Vail ski resort brings in so many tourists from out of state and many hunters hit the West Elk Wilderness area around Gunnison in her district. If she knew how badly new gun control legislation would deter tourist dollars into her district, she might think twice about supporting any of it.

 

[dbrow6272]

I have read the Colorado gov's statement. Now with the shootings today, coupled with all of the others recently I am afraid this is giving the government leverage for this gun control. Sad situations all around. Pray for those poor souls.

 

[XD 45acp]

There will definitelly be a move coming from the anti's now due to today's events in CT. Buckle up.

 

[Carpedium]

If only guns were legal on school premises - schools would no longer be low-risk target rich environments for these psychopathic criminals. A teacher or some other law abiding responsible citizen may have been able to have taken this guy out before it escalated.

I believe that reason we have the right to keep and bear arms is to protect ourselves and our loved ones from being victimized, and to ensure a remedy against government tyranny. Why do people choose to rely on the police when things like this happen? Why are there areas of this country that people have this right to protect themselves revoked?

 

[gobysky]

I agree with Carpedium. If new laws are passed, I hope they're effective in solving the real problem, not some emotional response that satisfies only the politically motivated anti-gun activists. Lets find a real fix, and put politics aside.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

As ususal, the media will put the gun issue up front, NOT the nut cases that commit the crimes. I believe that by over publicizing the event, the seed is planted in the crazies mind and eventually they act on the impulse.
If guns are not allowed in schools, why not install a "panic" button in each room that will lock the door to that room. Bullet proof the glass and teach the kids a drill to get away from the door window. At least some time will exist for someone with a weapon to fix the problem..just sayin..

P.R.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Something many of you may not realize is that most public schools employ resource intervention officers- which is a fancy name for armed police officers in various wings of the actual school building. If this school did and the response was ineffective to the point that students still perished, it may lend credence to the notion that gun control and gun free zones are truly ineffective at preventing tragedy.

Also, the new policy in most public schools is to lock all class doors from the outside, so that they can be immediately closed and instantly locked. Students are then instructed to move out of sight of the door's window.

 

[CoRoMo]

Anyone interested in contacting an elected official?

I never intended this to be a discussion thread.

 

[Trent]

I have a friend who lives in Westminster, will forward the information to him.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Personally I think its sick the way the antis exploit tragedies like the CT shooting to push their agenda. The problem we all need to address is WHY these things happen and how to protect ourselves from them. The answer isn't taking away the tool as if there is only one tool these sick people can use to kill. If they could tell me they KNOW this sicko wouldn't have used a bomb, or set the place on fire, if he knew he couldn't get a gun I would listen but the fact is you have to stop the PERSON not the tools he uses. We need to stand up to this madness and demand they address the real issue instead of attacking our rights again.

 

[joneb]

If new laws are passed, I hope they're effective in solving the real problem, not some emotional response that satisfies only the politically motivated anti-gun activists. Lets find a real fix, and put politics aside.

I agree, there must be a common thread to this madness ? Were these shooters under the influence psychoactive medication ? Would the media tell us if they were ?
Have guns become more evil or is this a symptom that something is going very wrong with our social wellness ?

 

[leadcounsel]

ttt

 

[jon_in_wv]

Have guns become more evil or is this a symptom that something is going very wrong with our social wellness ?

That answer is pretty obvious to you and me, our society has gotten sick. The media trumpets these people as some type of anti-hero while they shake their heads at the press they get. There is an entire generation who thinks saving the spotted owl is more important than human life or Mother Earth would be better off if we just killed off mankind. If they don't feel loved or they think they didn't get a fair shake then the world OWES them something. Everyone wants a paycheck, no one wants to work. They have a childish fear of firearms because they think equality means that everyone should be powerless and the government is a warm blanket to wrap yourself in. Now they embrace socialism and are tripping over themselves to sign away their rights and freedoms so they can feel safe. Our society and our culture produces these monsters and taking guns away from millions of people isn't going to make these people less monstrous.

As a side note, I've asked several of my friends when the last time was they saw a mental institution? Are there no more crazy people? The fact is there are plenty and now they live on the streets or next door so we don't have to feel bad about institutionalizing them. We don't want to address the problems of mental health in this country, just like we ignore the rest of our problems, so they want to just take away guns so our problems will be less scarey. Realizing the problems we have are with people, not tools, is a hard thing for an immature mind to grasp.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

Our culture has changed and the average person today is less decent than they were years ago. There is no easy solution that solves the problem.

 

[Fremmer]

Contact your local nra folks in colorado, too. Coordinate with them. And get ready to fight the new "safety" laws that won't affect anyone other than law abiding citizens.

Hickenloopers position has changed because he's got a democratic majority in the legislature, so your 2nd Am. Rights are subject to their decisions.

That's a shame.

 

[elwoodm]

look at it this way you have the libs and left wingers coming out the wood works to ban guns an a assault on the 2nd amendment thats right i said assault ha ha ha. we all know the majority of the people who make up this group that want to ban guns. now look at the people these events have just happened to. mainly white well off crackers that the left could care less about. the left will use you like a cheap whore and toss you to the curb to get what they want. the people in conn. co. and or. need to stand up and tell the crap media they dont want to be used like that. what needs to be said is if someone with a concealed carry had been at the seen responsibility for ones own safety would have won. laws that keep you from doing this make you a victim. where is it written that the weak survive?

 

[Pilot]

I lived in Douglas County (suburb of Denver) when Hickenlooper was mayor. He was a terrible mayor (Denver has the worst gun laws in CO), and he is a terrible Governor. I can't believe Coloradons elected this guy to that high of an office. He is playing to his far left base, and the law abiding people of CO need to stand up to this Obama clone.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I like they way the media is portraying the NRA as "extremist" while they want to disarm millions of people because of the actions of one lunatic. Yeah, thats not extreme at all.

 

[Highcaliber]

I think a "ballot initiative" is needed in States that allow such things . Require Principals, Office personnel and Teachers to obtain Concealed Carry permits and training. This would offer a tangible line of defense in violent attacks such as the recent tragedy in CT.

 

[elwoodm]

years ago a elementary school in russia was gunned down by rebels. do you think the response was to ban guns? now they have teachers that carry problem solved will not happen again without a fire fight. in this country run and hide dial 911 while some piece of trash removes you from the still sucking air club.

 

[eddiegun]

That answer is pretty obvious to you and me, our society has gotten sick. The media trumpets these people as some type of anti-hero while they shake their heads at the press they get. There is an entire generation who thinks saving the spotted owl is more important than human life or Mother Earth would be better off if we just killed off mankind. If they don't feel loved or they think they didn't get a fair shake then the world OWES them something. Everyone wants a paycheck, no one wants to work. They have a childish fear of firearms because they think equality means that everyone should be powerless and the government is a warm blanket to wrap yourself in. Now they embrace socialism and are tripping over themselves to sign away their rights and freedoms so they can feel safe. Our society and our culture produces these monsters and taking guns away from millions of people isn't going to make these people less monstrous.

As a side note, I've asked several of my friends when the last time was they saw a mental institution? Are there no more crazy people? The fact is there are plenty and now they live on the streets or next door so we don't have to feel bad about institutionalizing them. We don't want to address the problems of mental health in this country, just like we ignore the rest of our problems, so they want to just take away guns so our problems will be less scarey. Realizing the problems we have are with people, not tools, is a hard thing for an immature mind to grasp.

Very well said.

 

[coondogger]

In places that are not hoplophobic and there are no gun free zones, they don't sit and cower while a maniac takes his time and fires dozens of rounds. They don't wait until he stops. They don't wait for 'authorites' who never arrive in time. Ordinary citizens stop him. Here are some excellent observations by Mas Ayoob.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob81.html

 

[Coltdriver]

The sad part of this is that the root cause of all these shootings is being ignored.

Every one of these shooters is/was mentally disturbed. Yet we do not require a psychologist to report a person in their care to the authorities when violence is discussed.

All of this doctor patient confidentiality is non sense. If a person is a threat to society then how is the doctor not complicit in the act of the patient when the patient commits violence?

If mentally disturbed people were identified, put into a database to ban them from gun, knife, ammo and any other thing that could be used for mass destruction then many if not most of these cases could be avoided.

If parents were required to register their known disturbed kids in the data base and if the parents were held criminally responsible for not doing so it would take no time, between parents and doctors, to identify the majority of these people.

You nearly always hear, after the fact, of family and friends who knew the shooter was not stable or in fact knew they were outright disturbed. This is nothing more than plain common sense to get a handle on the problem this way.