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

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The shooter in Colorado had a high capacity drum, but it failed before 30 rounds were fired making it less lethal than a standard capacity magazine.

Also, the teachers with guns thing not only is a viable solution, it is already being implemented in Texas. I am going to work toward a similar policy at my child's school.
 
After the Virginia Tech shooting the ATF did a study of the mental health reporting and stated only 23 states report individuals that are adjudicated mentally defective or institutionalized and of those only 4 report regularly. The mental health reporting requirement is and unfunded federal mandate that few states choose to pay for on their own. Did congress pass a bill to pay for it?? NO. Apparently banning us from getting guns is more important than keeping the mentally ill from getting guns.
 
CoRoMo said:
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.

Indeed. This is a serious threat at the moment. The Democrats have the governor's office locked up at the moment, with a governor who brought up this "discussion" in the first place. The Senate in Colorado is 57.1% Democrat at the moment, and the House is 56.9% Democrat. Though I know we don't like to argue party affiliations around here too much, we all know that the Democratic Party platform has generally been much more open to gun control than the Republican Party.

I'll be trying to send quite a few letters out this week, and may try to send physical mail rather than e-mail in this instance.

I'll also focus my efforts in a few cases, given that I've had more personal contact with some of our law-makers over the years. I've worked under Governor Hickenlooper in the past, and have talked to him on numerous occasions (I don't know that I have any sway with him whatsoever, but I'll at least try).

I also know a Democratic Senator in Colorado, and he's a darn nice guy. He's a huge education supporter, and that seems to be his primary political platform. But, I actually have no idea how he feels about guns. I've worked with his wife for years, and they're a really nice family. I don't know if he'll agree with my points on this issue or not, but I'll certainly try to convey them to him. Perhaps he'll see eye-to-eye with me on the need to make our schools into "harder" targets?

I can't honestly say that I know how any proposed legislation will be received at the moment, but I do fear that a party line vote may quickly change the culture for gun owners here in Colorado. Our state has always had fairly relaxed gun laws, and despite a few notable shootings, I think our violent crime late is relatively low compared to many other places.
 
So how do we prohibit access to firearms to mentally unstable individuals ?
I don't see a legislative option here :confused: It would be up to the parents or custodians of these individuals to prohibit access to firearms :confused:
 
jibjab,

The sad truth is that we can't absolutely keep weapons out of the hands of deranged people, no matter how hard we try, or what laws we pass. Instead, we should focus our efforts on blocking their attempts to obtain weapons as best we can: 1) Make sure that the known violently psychotic individuals are receiving in-patient treatment 2) Appropriately flag some of the severely mentally ill people so that they can't walk into a store and buy a gun over the counter 3) Continue to educate gun owners on the importance of making sure that our weapons don't fall into the hands of those who would do harm with them.

Realistically, the only effective way to counter such despicable violence is with violence. Even if guns were 100% banned, nothing would have stopped this killer from walking into that school with a sword, or worse yet, a bomb vest. But, had that coward walked into a school where armed people were waiting to confront him, odds are strongly in favor of the idea that he wouldn't have been able to massacre nearly as many (if any) innocent children.

Remember, two of the worst attacks EVER on American soil were committed with a fertilizer bomb, and by hijacking airliners by use of box cutters. Evil people will always find a way around the laws, and will always find a way to kill innocent people. Good people can stop these attacks by being able/ready to confront this violence when it appears before them.
 
Even if guns were 100% banned,
We can't stop drugs coming into this country, and I doubt we could stop black market firearms either.
I think if a teacher chooses to be trained and wishes to carry they should be allowed to do so many of them have three month off a year for training.
I think a better option is to have trained armed security at schools and campuses, there are many former military persons that have a head start on the training that would be required.
I think we should ask Israel for help on this matter.
 
So how do we prohibit access to firearms to mentally unstable individuals ?
I don't see a legislative option here It would be up to the parents or custodians of these individuals to prohibit access to firearms

This is a start. The law is already on the books.

http://gunowners.org/ne0703.htm

The fact is the law as it stands is an unfunded mandate and they don't supply the funding for the states to properly report the mentally defective to the FBI. Congress has made that decision to cripple the existing law rather than make it work. Its the Clintonian way at work. Ignore and cripple current laws so you can claim they don't work and get more passed. When you have everything you want THEN enforce them so you can get the draconian control you want.

Secondly I would support legislation that imposed penalties on people you knowingly gave free access of firearms to people they know are prohibited from possessing firearms. In the case of the CT shooter the mother knew her son was mentally disturbed and dangerous yet she kept guns unsecured in the home where he had access to them. That is extremely negligent in my book.


Jibjab, they know they can't get rid of them all. The idea is that in Utopia only the criminals will have guns and the police will play cops and robbers with them and the rest of us will live in peace and harmony with pink skies and unicorns. Eventually the police will seize and destroy the rest and we will all go to heaven.
 
they know they can't get rid of them all.
True,
and they can't can't stop more from coming in.
So any form of gun control would only empower criminals, and put law abiding folks at risk.
 
The Time is right for gun control

Lets not forget-our then president-Ronald Regan signed a bill refusing funding to all states mental institutions. The states tried to keep up but could not so out into the streets they went. Now we have to have these type of tragedies because these unstable people are walking amongst us. Mom is to blame also, she knew his condition and as a previous poster said left firearms where he could get them.
 
Alternatives to AWB

Just a couple of points that can hopefully steer the conversation with anti-gunners into a more productive direction:

There are many ways to neutralize a deranged shooter. I was thinking about this kid in CT, and how he was supposed to be so withdrawn as to be barely functional, he's not some trained SWAT or SF guy. (I'm really surprised he was so effective with the AR, including changing mags, unless....... *someone* had spent time with him at the range, which at best would have shown really bad judgement and and worst, been illegal, since his mental condition should disqualify him from owning/using/touching firearms per 4473's mental capacity restriction). Anyway, I digress, my point is that he should have been stopped by any reasonable action and with reasonable resources. To this end, schools could have a "panic room", with appropriate hardware, that would allow communications and remote control, i.e. the ability to isolate rooms or wings with electrical locks. This might be the principal's office, for instance. From there, additional resources could be deployed, such as remotely dispensed fog and/or sleep inducing sprays, which would put everyone in the zone temporarily down. Similarly, electronic vaults in strategic locations could provide non-lethal tasers, and teachers could be instructed, if willing, on how to use them. I'm sure others could think of additional measures in this vain. Yes, it is sad that we are having this conversation, but it is the world we are living in. The only question is whether we want to do things that will be effective in improving our safety, or do we want to do something in haste that "feels good", for the sake of doing something, regardless of the unintended consequences for our collective liberty and lack of efficacy?
 
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Let me prime the pump: Why not have universal background checks for all gun sales?

Today our governor gave his State of the State speech and everyone was watching to see if he would deliver a rant like Cuomo did yesterday. Hickenlooper is a faithful, blindly faithful, soldier of the Bloomberg mayors troop and he did not neglect the opportunity or avoid the topic of gun control today.

You can read the transcript here: http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2013/01/10/colorado-gov-hickenlooper-delivers.html?page=all
Surely, Second Amendment advocates and gun control supporters can find common ground in support of this proposition
So he's asking you to swallow the gun control and consider it a noble compromise.

Please contact our governor and members of our state legislature.

Please.
 
Here's the thing. As long as we hold FIRM, we won't give any ground.

Blast the hell out of the phones, fax machines, and e-mail addresses of every government representative.

Keep doing it until they shut their damn mouths.
 
Thanks for the heads up CoRoMo. I just emaild my state reps letting them know I opposed any further "infringements".

Here is a link to the Colorado General Assembly for anyone who wants to do the same. This opens on the directory page so you may track your representative down.

http://www.leg.state.co.us

PLEASE ACT!
 
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There is something I think everyone here should keep in mind. Right now, politicians are under tremendous pressure to "do something"
In the construction trade there is a old saying, "just do something even if it's wrong" I don't prescribe to this method as I can't afford to do things twice, but our government can :confused:
 
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.
Obama has gone on record saying officers or armed teachers are not the right path.

Attaboy! keep those gun-free, killing-spree areas unprotected.

The ultimate hypocrisy; his kids have protection at school.

Our kids aren't worthy of protection at school.

Another entitled elitist, who has shown his true colors in his second term. God help us, or anyone else.

Yeup, never let an atrocity or crisis go to waste.
 
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The ultimate hypocrisy; his kids have protection at school.
The ultimate hypocrisy; his policies support the murder of over a million unborn children every year just in the US.
 
He'd better hope that no one decides it's time for Governor control. That only takes one vote. Not advocating, just stating a simple fact.
 
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