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Do you feel lucky? Minority GOP isn't playing the punk on gun bills

Lynn Bartels And Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 14, 2007 at midnight

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Republican lawmakers, often lining up with Democrats on renewable-energy bills this session, are drawing the line on gun issues.

Even they poke fun at their environmental sensitivity.

"It's God, guns and granola now," joked Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, playing off the "God, guns and gays" mantra.

So Senate Republicans found much to cheer about Tuesday when three Democrats voted with them to gut a gun measure that would have required concealed-weapons permit-holders to reside in the state where the permit is issued.

Democrats quickly pulled the bill from debate to figure out how to salvage it.

And in the House, seven Democrats joined with Republicans on Monday to support Gardner's bill to expand Colorado's "make my day law" to include businesses as well as homes. It passed by one vote on initial reading, and Democrats are working to defeat it on a final vote.

"To me, it's proof that Colorado is still a conservative-slash- libertarian state," said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Yuma.

Gun bills aren't dominating this session as they did in 2000, after the Columbine High School shootings, when lawmakers once fought until 1 a.m. about gun measures, including background checks at gun shows.

But the votes this week have heartened conservatives.

"This should be a lesson to the majority party," Brophy said Tuesday. "In Colorado, we like our guns."

Democrats control the House, Senate and governor's office for the first time since 1962.

Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, said Democrats recognize Second Amendment rights.

"We're not trying to take anyone's guns away, but no one has a constitutional right to carry a concealed weapon," he said.

He pointed out that the concealed-weapons bill in the Senate is a "safety" measure sponsored by a former police chief, Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs.

But in the crossfire over firearms bills, even a staunch defender of gun owners' rights such as Rep. Al White, R-Winter Park, has been blasted by his own party.

The statewide database of concealed-weapons permits expires July 1. White introduced a bill to do away with the expiration, which would make the database permanent.

White said he introduced the bill because he figures Democrats would be more likely to keep the concealed-weapons law if the state maintains a database.

But that reasoning hasn't stopped pro-gun groups from taking potshots.

"I got a real nasty e-mail from one of their members calling me a communist, treasonist legislator," White said.

Two gun measures under consideration

• HOUSE BILL 1011

What it does: Adds place of business to the current "make my day law" that allows a person to use deadly force against an intruder if he fears imminent death or serious bodily injury.

Status: Waiting for final vote in the House; passed by one vote on initial reading after seven Democrats joined with Republicans in supporting it.

• SENATE BILL 34

What it does: Clarifies that a person cannot use a permit to carry a concealed handgun issued in another state if that person does not currently reside in the issuing state.

Status: Senate debate postponed Tuesday after three Democrats sided with Republicans in gutting it.

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