Posted on 11/22/2022 4:45:22 AM PST by real saxophonist
Colorado lawmakers create gun reform caucus less than a week before shooting
by: Gabrielle Franklin
Nov 21, 2022
DENVER (KDVR) — In recent years, state lawmakers have moved to address gun violence through state law, yet we continue to see shootings happen.
Sadly, this is an issue lawmakers at the capitol were already looking at before the shooting on Saturday happened, saying the latest tragedy puts an exclamation point on their intentions.
“Unfortunately, I think, not only did we know that this or something similar was coming, but we could have a similar story every day,” said Representative Meg Froelich. Froelich along with 21 other Democrats at the state capitol announced just last Tuesday they will be form a gun violence prevention caucus at the capitol next session.
“This toxic combination of hate and access to guns is so fundamentally a heartbreaking part of our Colorado existence, and it’s the reason why we formed the gun violence prevention caucus to address this situation,” Froelich said.
She said it is tough to change hatred with policy but lawmakers are looking into answers about guns.
“The piece of access to guns for the perpetrators of these kinds of crimes and to the daily toll of gun violence that is exasperated by easy access to guns is the part we are seeking to address in policy change,” said Froelich.
The 20 plus lawmakers in the group said they ran on the issue of gun violence. Some members like Senator Rhonda Fields and Senator-elect Tom Sullivan, both of Aurora, have been personally impacted by gun violence; each of them losing a son.
Advocates for gun violence prevention said some of the solutions the caucus should explore may not have prevented this shooting.
“Some of them are not even so relevant to this situation. Like one of the things that has been discussed a lot is an assault weapons minimum age. Well, generally when people put them minimum age they’d put it at 21 but in this case the shooter was 22,” said Eileen McCarron of Colorado Cease Fire.
Lawmakers included in the caucus are:
Representative Judy Amabile
Representative Jennifer Bacon
Representative Tracey Bernett
Representative Andy Boesenecker
Representative Lindsey Daugherty
Representative Monica Duran
Representative-Elect Elizabeth Epps
Representative Meg Froelich
Representative-Elect Eliza Hamrick
Representative Iman Jodeh
Representative-Elect Junie Joseph
Representative Karen McCormick
Representative Michaelson Jenet
Representative Emily Sirota
Representative Mike Weissman
Representative Steven Woodrow
Senator Jessie Danielson
Senator Rhonda Fields
Senator Chris Hansen
Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis
Senator Chris Kolker
Senator-Elect Tom Sullivan
Advocates say it is a very tricky issue to solve, especially with Colorado already having preventative laws on the books already, but lawmakers say they are committed to finding the right answer. Governor Polis’ Office said he has spoken to some of the victims in the wake of the shooting.
There is no new thing under the sun. I'm surprised those in Washington haven't come up with this yet.
...with Colorado already having preventative laws on the books already,...
Might want to proofread.
How many lives are saved by guns? I wonder if these people would ever consider that kind of question (but would not hold my breath).
An admission that any "solutions" these slackers (who decided to delve into politics) are proposing are both impotent and useless. They are merely addressing the symptoms of a much wider problem.
The problem isn't guns. The opposite is true. More guns = less crime.
The problem is a spirit of lawlessness and perversion that has swept the nation. Anything else is mere window dressing.
Too late
You cannot control a law-abiding person.
So, you must pass laws that make it impossible to not break the law.
Thereby, controlling everyone with the law.
- Ayn Rand [paraphrase].
Gun control works the same as arresting people who own cars that can go over the speed limit -and the speed limit changes whenever they want it to.
That possibility that the owners MIGHT violate the speed limit is enough reason to confiscate their property....fer tha chillrun!
Ping
Lots of people saved by guns. Just ask the disarmed people in several countries.
““This toxic combination of hate and access to guns”
It’s mental illness. This guy threatened to blow up his mother last year. Blame his family - They refused to prosecute after he was arrested. Blame them for not getting proper help for him years ago.
It wouldn’t have helped any way
That’s right.
Nothing wrong with gun reform but liberals aren’t really good with guns and I think gun manufacturers are pretty good with coming up with gun improvements and new styles on their own !!
/s because some actually will not get it.
It’s not our guns; it’s your sons.
I got it, thanks! 8~)
There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals.
Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
One of mine:
“There is a name for a society where only the police have guns. It is called a police state. The Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights is not about duck hunting, any more than the First Amendment is about playing Scrabble. The entire Bill of Rights is about individual freedom.”
-Henry Bowman
From the Department of Redundancy Department.
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