Blog Archives

Hickenlooper issued a statement denying any involvement with Ebel’s prison treatment after acknowledging that he is good friends with the suspect’s father

DENVER–Gov. John Hickenlooper described it Sunday as a “nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from”: the son of a longtime friend is now the chief suspect in the murder of a member of the governor’s cabinet.

Making matters worse is speculation over whether governor had intervened on behalf of Evan Spencer Ebel, the former Colorado prison inmate who died Thursday in a shoot-out with Texas deputies before being named a suspect in the killing of Colorado corrections chief Tom Clements. Read more »

McLachlan, a Durango Democrat, is one of four legislators who have been targeted for recall efforts after they back strict new gun control laws

DENVER–It’s hard to recall the last time Coloradans were so fired up over recalls.

Days after Gov. John Hickenlooper signed three gun-control bills into law, gun-rights advocates are moving to recall anybody and everybody associated with the legislation, including the Democratic governor.

Read more »

The oil and gas industry supports more than 100,000 jobs and contributes nearly $32 billion into the state economy

DENVER–Democrats moved to put the squeeze the energy sector Thursday by approving bills that would increase penalties and inspections on drilling facilities.

The Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee passed on an 3-2 vote a bill to require annual inspections on drilling facilities. Meanwhile, the House Transportation and Energy Committee voted 8-5 in favor of a bill to raise the maximum daily fine for drilling violations from $1,000 to $15,000, with no cap. Read more »

Hickenlooper said he believed most Coloradans would agree that the legislation’s pros outstripped the cons

DENVER–As expected, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed three gun-control bills into law Wednesday, and as expected, the fallout was immediate.

Within hours, gun-rights advocates had launched a three-prong attack on the Democratic legislature’s gun-control package, vowing to battle the measures on the legal, economic and political fronts.

Independence Institute president Jon Caldara announced Wednesday that the free-market think-tank would head up a legal challenge against the bills.

Meanwhile, Magpul Industries confirmed in a Facebook post that the company would make good on its promise to leave Colorado if the bill to limit magazine capacity were signed. Read more »

Governor Hickenlooper signed three pieces of controversial gun control legislation today

DENVER — An emotional Gov. John Hickenlooper called Wednesday the shooting death of state corrections chief Tom Clements and the signing of three gun-control bills “an incredibly tragic and sad coincidence.”

Clements was shot and killed as he answered the door at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at his home in Monument. No suspect has yet been identified or detained in the killing, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s office.

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Magpul employs about 200 people and supports another 400 supply-chain jobs in Colorado

DENVER–A Magpul official Friday urged Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill to limit ammunition magazine capacity and said the company will support efforts to overturn the measure if it becomes law.

At the same time, Magpul Dynamics director Duane Liptak Jr. acknowledged in an interview on KOA-AM’s “The Mike Rosen Show” that the Erie-based company still plans to leave the state if the bill is signed, adding that officials have already begun exploring alternatives. Read more »

READILY CONVERTIBLE: Jon Caldara demonstrates how easily a 15-round magazine can be expanded to a 17-round magazine by snapping on an extender

DENVER–Colorado gun-rights advocates launched a last-ditch effort Thursday to convince Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill limiting ammunition capacity, but if the governor signs it, they’re prepared to take the issue to the voters.

At least two efforts are underway to overturn House Bill 1224, which bans the sale and transfer of ammunition magazines holding more than 15 rounds. Read more »

The report, which includes 58 recommendations, was sent Wednesday to the state legislature

DENVER–Still no word from the Justice Department on Colorado’s decision to legalize pot for adults, but the chairman of the state marijuana task force said Wednesday that he believes the state’s sober approach will keep the feds at bay.

Jack Finlaw, co-chairman of the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force, said the 165-page report released Wednesday shows that Colorado is taking seriously its responsibility to regulate marijuana, keep it away from children, and prevent it from leaving the state. Read more »

By the time prosecutors decide whether to seek the death penalty for James Holmes, capital punishment may be on the verge of being abolished in Colorado

CENTENNIAL–By the time prosecutors decide in the next few weeks whether to seek the death penalty for James Eagan Holmes, capital punishment may be on the verge of being abolished in Colorado.

That’s the schizophrenic scenario unfolding now as Democratic legislators move to challenge the state’s capital-punishment law even as Arapahoe County prepares to host what could become the most riveting death-penalty trial in the nation. Read more »