Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

House approves high-capacity magazine ban, despite GOP objections
kdvr.com ^ | February 15, 2013 | Eli Stokols

Posted on 02/15/2013 8:35:35 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe

DENVER — The first of four Democratic gun proposals to be heard Friday, a ban on high-capacity magazines, cleared the statehouse on an initial voice vote around 3 p.m. after a six-hour debate.

“Over the course of the last four or five years, we’ve had 34 mass shootings using high capacity magazines,” said Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, whose district includes the Century 16 theater where 12 people were killed in a mass shooting last July.

“That is the common thread we see in these massacres. They’re using these high-capacity magazines so they can unload as many bullets as they can to kill as many people as they can, in our schools, in our theaters and in our churches.”

A parade of Republicans took to the well Friday to speak at length in opposition to every aspect the bill; but the Democratic majority, with at least three members breaking ranks and voting against House Bill 1224, passed the measure on second reading over those sustained objections.

“If you vote for this bill, you are gambling on the safety of Coloradans,” said Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs. “There is no evidence that banning these magazines will have any positive impact on public safety and you are taking them away from responsible, law-abiding citizens.”

Republicans also focused attention on Boulder-based Magpul Industries, the $400 million magazine manufacturer now threatening to leave Colorado if this ban becomes law; and, five hours into the debate, the House GOP informed reporters that a Magpul supplier, Alfred Manufacturing, may also have to move its Denver plant, and 150 jobs there, to another state.

Democrats amended the bill to allow Magpul to continue to manufacture high-capacity magazines in Colorado for sale in other states, but the company remained opposed to the ban.

Republicans argued that the amendment, which would enable the continued use of magazines of more than 15 clips elsewhere, illustrated hypocrisy.

“Now we know what this bill is really about,” said Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling. “It’s all about the money! Is that what this bill’s about? That we don’t care about other people across the country?”

Democrats said they’re simply striving to find a balance that protects affected businesses while improving public safety.

“This represents us listening to a constituency base,” said Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton.

Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, referred to the amendment as “the oops amendment”, arguing that Democrats forgot about the impact on businesses when drafting the bill.

The strident opposition to House Bill 1224, one of the two measures the House GOP entered the day with hope of defeating, presaged a long floor fight over the four Democratic gun control measures that Is expected to last late into the night and possibly Saturday morning.

Republicans began the day hoping they can find five Democrats to vote against the bill and help kill it; at least four Democrats have expressed reservations but House Speaker Mark Ferrandino is confident that the high-capacity magazine ban will pass the House at the end of this long debate.

One moderate Democrat who Republicans needed to vote against the bill, Rep. Mike McLachlan of Durango, had already voted for the ban during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday.

On Friday, he strode to the well to inform his colleagues he’d be doing so again.

“I rise in support of this bill,” said McLachlan, a Vietnam Vet who narrowly won a GOP-leaning district last November, sounding the unofficial death knell for the GOP’s attempted filibuster.

“No constitutional right, even the Second Amendment, is absolute.”

Following the voice vote on the high-capacity ammunition ban, lawmakers immediately began debating House Bill 1226, which mandates background checks on all gun purchases in the state that is also sponsored by Fields.

The other measures before the House Friday, or perhaps early Saturday morning, include legislation to force gun buyers to pay for those background checks and a ban on concealed weapons on college campuses.


TOPICS: US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: banglist; colorado; guncontrol; secondamendment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: Tailgunner Joe

Call me picky etc, BUT the headline insinuates The US House of
Representatives approved the ban, which would have required several R’s to bolt.
Not that they wouldn’t have etc but it would have been nice to mention it was the Colorado House.


21 posted on 02/15/2013 9:41:55 PM PST by xrmusn (6/98 "It is virtually impossible to clean the pond as long as the pigs are still crapping in it")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe

the common thread i’ve seen is that the idiot nutbags have essentially chosen gun-free zones on purpose so that they don’t encounter anyone who can fight back with equivalent force, and when they do, they surender or kill themselves.

the solution is no gun free zones anymore and let citizens arm themselves to defend themselves when a nutbag pops up.


22 posted on 02/15/2013 9:42:38 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe

When are our crazy politicians going to admit it’s people; not guns that kill. Criminals are going to get guns no matter what.


23 posted on 02/15/2013 9:48:52 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

“They said if this passes they are gone. Hope they “stick to their guns”. So to speak.”

And if they do not, then i will not buy any more magpul products ( as difficult as that may be).

All of us can play the economic squeeze game. I don’t think magpul, or many other firearms and accessory manufacturers have enough liberal clientele to make up for losses from second amendment supporters.


24 posted on 02/15/2013 9:52:07 PM PST by jim-x (9/11/2001 - Never forget, Never forgive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jim-x

Roger that. Unfortunately the ones I had were lost in a uh........earthquake, tornado, volcanic eruption or some such tragic event.


25 posted on 02/15/2013 10:03:59 PM PST by rktman (Live the oath you took or get out of office!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: doc1019

Nope, he’s a Donk. “One moderate Democrat who Republicans needed to vote against the bill, Rep. Mike McLachlan of Durango...”


26 posted on 02/15/2013 10:08:19 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: freekitty

Uh, never. Radical left wing extremist demokkkrats don’t do that.

I got a response from difi today telling me that though she appreciates my viewpoint (yeah, right) she disagrees and has seen an increase in the mass shootings blah blah blah. A little simple math would show that the huge increase in gun ownership and the millions of “high capacity” mags sold over the past several years, the per capita rates are actually much much lower than they would have us believe. But, that doesn’t “add” up for their goals. 91% increase in sales over Bush 43? WOW!


27 posted on 02/15/2013 10:11:39 PM PST by rktman (Live the oath you took or get out of office!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: rcrngroup

“Battle lines being drawn . . . “


28 posted on 02/15/2013 10:12:06 PM PST by dagogo redux (A whiff of primitive spirits in the air, harbingers of an impending descent into the feral.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe

Hey Colorado... elections have consequences! Throw the bums out at the next election! If you can’t do that then please keep them up there we sure don’t want them here in Oklahoma!


29 posted on 02/15/2013 10:20:30 PM PST by OKC Patriot ("Never Forget"!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: musicman

State events like State House votes should add (Colorado House) to make it easy to distinguish between state and national votes...


30 posted on 02/15/2013 10:23:08 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe
"That is the common thread we see in these massacres. They’re using these high-capacity magazines so they can unload as many bullets as they can to kill as many people as they can, in our schools, in our theaters and in our churches.”

Nope, thanks for playing.

The common thread is that in all of these venues, either by policy or law, people are forbidden from carrying a weapon capable of stopping the killers.

From the Long Island Railway to Columbine, it is the same thing: a pen full of sheep with a wolf and the sheep had the sheepdogs' teeth pulled.

More of that failed policy will yield no change in results.

31 posted on 02/15/2013 11:22:48 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Washi
Sorry, but Colorado was in trouble when "Rocky Mountain High" came out...The Californication is almost complete.
32 posted on 02/15/2013 11:25:08 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Washi
You have your job cut out for you, Colorado. Be the freedom fighters of WWII, and refuse, delay, deny, obstruct and sabotage the left in any way you can. Google them and read who they were, what they did and how they did it. Work with like minded groups, like the www.oathkeepers.org, where you can meet like-minded people like yourself and share ideas, plans..otherwise, keep your politics and your action plans to yourself..this is not the time to verbally advertise until you know that the person/people you are talking to share your beliefs. The left MUST not get our guns and our ammo. We are within our rights to protect ourselves and our families against violence from any source AND tyrannical governments/dictators like oboma.

You need to organize and join forces with others like yourself...this is the time that will try men's souls to be sure. Stand fast for what you believe in, think smart and say a prayer.

33 posted on 02/15/2013 11:27:57 PM PST by itssme
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe
“No constitutional right, even the Second Amendment, is absolute.”

Well, gee, fella - we'll just turn off your microphone right now then.

When we think you have something to say worth hearing, we'll turn it back on.

I'm sure you won't mind having someone else determine when and how you can enjoy that pesky 1st Amendment right, now, will you?

34 posted on 02/16/2013 3:44:22 AM PST by grobdriver (Vivere liberi aut mori)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe

So some states will have 7, some 10, some 15 rounds limits? Some none? I assume the 7 round ones will have least gun crimes and there should be a linear progression to more as the mag round limit goes up?

This is apparently the liberal logic. Unbelievable.


35 posted on 02/16/2013 3:52:15 AM PST by Monty22002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe

Bad guys intent on doing harm carry many magazines. Good guy, not anticipating trouble, carries one legal but reduced capacity magazine. Studies show that under stress even trained professionals often need more than one high capacity magazine to subdue a target. Who does this bill favor? You have limited the right of an honest person to defend him or herself. Keep passing laws of this type and soon (if not already) we will be ruled by gangs of thugs, government included.


36 posted on 02/16/2013 4:56:09 AM PST by Boomer One
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Monty22002; All

“This is apparently the liberal logic. Unbelievable.”

When it comes to guns, there is no liberal logic.

The facts ring loud and clear, the obfuscation and lack
of liberal logic are ruling the day in CO. I’m not seeing
much success in protecting ourselves as potential slaves
or sheep from those who think law and government go hand
in hand in the interest of “the People”.

As to absolutes, that seems to be the ultimate problem
which libs, progressives, socialists and all the others
off the balanced center, have with life, they just don’t
know how, or cannot deal with the absolutes in life.
Speaking of absolutes, when was life not an absolute?

I should not have to answer that question.


37 posted on 02/16/2013 4:58:43 AM PST by wita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: doc1019

The remark you quoted came from a Democrat.


38 posted on 02/16/2013 5:17:40 AM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

The claim of 34 mass shootings counts each single victim as a mass shooting.


39 posted on 02/16/2013 5:19:04 AM PST by Cboldt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe

Colorado is getting exactly what it voted for.


40 posted on 02/16/2013 5:24:29 AM PST by aomagrat (Gun owners who vote for democrats are too stupid to own guns.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson