Steven Mace
02-15-2002, 09:02 PM
February 15, 2002
Gun bill looks down Senate barrel
Concealed weapon rules would loosen
By Kyle Henley The Gazette
DENVER - Concealed weapons legislation that advanced in a House committee Thursday is almost certainly doomed if it makes it to the state Senate.
The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1242 by Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, with a 5-4 vote.
It would require sheriffs to issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to anyone who passes a criminal background check. There would be no restrictions on where the weapon could be carried.
"The data shows that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens increase safety, not crime," said Schultheis, who also said the massacre at Columbine High School wouldn't have happened or would have ended quickly if teachers and other school employees had been carrying concealed guns.
HB1242 carries a $117,000 price tag and must be approved by the House Appropriations Committee before it goes to the full House.
Even if it does get through appropriations - bills that cost money aren't faring well in a year when the state is facing a $756 million drop in revenue - HB1242 is sure to fail in the Senate.
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee killed a more restrictive concealed weapons permit bill than HB1242.
"The four Democrats on Judiciary are not inclined to take away discretion of sheriffs and police chiefs to decide who gets a concealed weapons permit," said Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. "If it is a similar bill or worse, it won't happen."
Under current law, each sheriff and police chief can decide whether to issue concealed weapons permits and to whom.
To date, about 15,000 Coloradans have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Nearly 5,000 of those permits have been issued by El Paso County, more than any other county.
http://www.gazette.com/stories/0215loc1.php?section=1
Steve Mace
Gun bill looks down Senate barrel
Concealed weapon rules would loosen
By Kyle Henley The Gazette
DENVER - Concealed weapons legislation that advanced in a House committee Thursday is almost certainly doomed if it makes it to the state Senate.
The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1242 by Rep. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, with a 5-4 vote.
It would require sheriffs to issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to anyone who passes a criminal background check. There would be no restrictions on where the weapon could be carried.
"The data shows that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens increase safety, not crime," said Schultheis, who also said the massacre at Columbine High School wouldn't have happened or would have ended quickly if teachers and other school employees had been carrying concealed guns.
HB1242 carries a $117,000 price tag and must be approved by the House Appropriations Committee before it goes to the full House.
Even if it does get through appropriations - bills that cost money aren't faring well in a year when the state is facing a $756 million drop in revenue - HB1242 is sure to fail in the Senate.
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee killed a more restrictive concealed weapons permit bill than HB1242.
"The four Democrats on Judiciary are not inclined to take away discretion of sheriffs and police chiefs to decide who gets a concealed weapons permit," said Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. "If it is a similar bill or worse, it won't happen."
Under current law, each sheriff and police chief can decide whether to issue concealed weapons permits and to whom.
To date, about 15,000 Coloradans have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Nearly 5,000 of those permits have been issued by El Paso County, more than any other county.
http://www.gazette.com/stories/0215loc1.php?section=1
Steve Mace