State and Local

If the controversial measures are signed into law, the county sheriffs may file suit to overturn the measures

DENVER– Gov. John Hickenlooper’s push for gun-control laws may collide with 62 Colorado county sheriffs who issued a statement opposing measures that include universal background checks for gun transfers and banning high capacity magazines in excess of 15 rounds.

If the bills are signed into law, the county sheriffs may file a lawsuit against the state to halt the measures. The sheriffs issued a statement opposing the bills because they cannot be enforced without a gun registry and violate 2nd Amendment rights. Read more »

GOING TOO FAR? Some say HB1224 could result in a ban on almost all firearm magazines (Photo by Li Tsin Soon)

DENVER – As a proposed ban on firearm magazines approved last week by the legislature inched closer to becoming law, Magpul Industries Corp. sent a detailed letter to Governor Hickenlooper asking him to veto the bill. Read more »

Clark’s report on major problems with a Democratic gun control bill was one of several big stories the 9News anchor has broken in recent months

DENVER – “I’m not a political reporter.  I’m just very pro-fact,” tweeted 9News anchor Kyle Clark on Wednesday night.

While that may be true, Clark’s report on 9News Thursday night about some glaring deficiencies in the proposed bill to ban standard capacity magazines over 15 rounds also exposed another glaring deficiency — the lack of hard hitting reporting coming out of many reporters assigned full time to the political beat. Read more »

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 »

Adams 12 has been fighting an uphill battle to initiate school reforms that may finally be paying off

DENVER – Adams 12 Five Star school district has had a few growing pains in their effort to remain one of Colorado’s top performing, most populous school districts while also maintaining fiscal stability.

One was a decision to fire two teachers last year for stealing thousands of dollars intended for school trips for students – a decision that was recently upheld by Colorado Court of Appeals. 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 »

Lawmakers debated four hours over Senate amendments to both gun control-bills Wednesday

DENVER – A bill limiting ammunition magazine capacity to 15 rounds passed from the House to Gov. John Hickenlooper – but a second bill requiring universal background checks for all gun transfers was detoured Wednesday to be tweaked.

“Democrats are out of touch,” said House Minority Mark Waller (R-Colorado Springs). “More than 200,000 Coloradans are out of work but Democrats are more concerned with passing legislation that will send hundreds of jobs out of our state without any increase in public safety to show for it.” 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 »