By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
UPDATED: A bill which would have banned so-called “assault weapons” in Colorado has been shelved after one of its main sponsors, state Sen. Julie Gonzales (D-Denver) revealed she wanted the measure pulled.
The announcement came during a meeting of the Senate State, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, according to the Colorado Sun.
Ammoland Editor Fredy Riehl said in an editorial to readers, “I want to make it abundantly clear that this is happening because of YOU. People like YOU and me refuse to stop. We refuse to stop fighting for this very important Constitutional right.”
House Bill 1292 was labeled as a measure to “Prohibit Certain Weapons Used in Mass Shootings.” The legislation defined “assault weapon” as a “semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine, or that may be readily modified to accept a detachable magazine” and has one or more characteristics such as a folding., telescoping or detachable stock, muzzle brake, grenade launcher, or a feature that could be used as a protruding grip by the non-trigger hand. Another taboo feature would be a thumbhole stock or pistol grip stock.
The bill also banned .50-caliber rifles, and semi-automatic pistols capable of accepting a detachable magazine or of being modified to accept a detachable magazine. Pistols with threaded barrels, a second pistol grip, a barrel shroud, muzzle brake or an arm brace.
The bill included an extensive list of specific firearms that would have been banned.
Gonzales reportedly explained, “After thoughtful conversations with my Senate colleagues, I decided that more conversations need to take place outside of the pressure cooker of the Capitol during the last weeks of the legislative session. In that spirit, I look forward to renewing and continuing those discussions over the interim.
“It is clear that survivors of devastating gun violence, responsible gun owners, and local and national policy advocates remain committed to doing the work necessary to save lives — and an assault weapons ban will do just that,” she reportedly added.
The bill passed the House last month on a 35-27 vote which saw some Democrats vote with Republicans, who all voted against the measure.
By odd coincidence, the bill was pulled while the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was experiencing a problem with the state’s background check system. TGM spoke with the CBI and learned there was a hardware system failure which began apparently Sunday night or early Monday morning when the system was being updated. A spokesman said the agency was hoping to get the system back online by Tuesday afternoon.
In an email from Rob Low, CBI strategic communications director, he explained, “The Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC) system is partially down due to a power outage at the Lakewood Data Center. Bringing the system back online is the top priority for the State at this time.
“This computer failure impacts InstaCheck, the statewide database used to do criminal background checks on gun purchases.
“Under Colorado law no guns can be sold from licensed firearms dealers until CBI has been able to perform a background check.
“Again, the state Office of Information Technology (OIT) is working around the clock to resolve this issue as soon as possible.
“Updates will be provided as they become available.”
