Vicki Marble’s Pack Heat Everywhere Act

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by: Colorado Pols

One of the emerging stories as the 2015 Colorado legislative session gets under way is what appears to be a more robust attempt by Republicans and gun-rights activists to repeal the 2013 gun safety bills passed in response to the Aurora shooting and other high-profile gun violence incidents the previous year. In 2014, Republicans introduced a similar slate of legislation repealing basically all of the gun bills passed in 2013, but Democrats weren't budging–and the gun activists' ability to draw huge crowds to the Capitol in opposition to these bills in 2013 failed to materialize in last year's session.

It's possible that gun activists, emboldened beyond all reason by last year's recall elections, were counting on a Republican sweep at the polls in 2014. But with Democrats remaining in control of the Colorado House, both recalled Senate seats retaken by Democrats, and Gov. John Hickenlooper re-elected, it's highly unlikely that we'll see any of 2013's gun safety bills repealed. Whether that hard reality motivates or once again suppresses the gun lobby's activist turnout is yet to be seen, but if their excuse in 2014 was that they were waiting for their electoral triumph…they'll need to keep waiting.

In the meantime, Republican Sen. Vicki Marble, one of the Colorado Senate's least reality-tethered members, isn't waiting to repeal 2013's gun safety bills to charge ahead with her own Rocky Mountain Gun Owners pet priority: doing away with restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons. Check out the summary of Marble's Senate Bill 15-032:

The bill allows a person who legally possesses a handgun under state and federal law to carry a concealed handgun in Colorado. A person who carries a concealed handgun under the authority created in the bill has the same carrying rights and is subject to the same limitations that apply to a person who holds a permit to carry a concealed handgun under current law, including the prohibition on the carrying of a concealed handgun on the grounds of a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school.

Of course, RMGO is hard at work on the guns on school grounds angle too–just not in this bill. We don't expect Marble's "Guns for Everyone" bill to fare any better than the repeal bills, of course, but the contrast couldn't be clearer between the agendas of the two parties on guns. One is within the mainstream of public opinion on the issue, and one is not. The best way to demonstrate just how far out of the mainstream Sen. Marble's bill is? The National Rifle Association's own polling shows that 74% of NRA members–not just the public, NRA members–believe concealed carriers should complete some kind of gun safety training first.

So who are the reasonable actors here? It's self-evident, folks.

16 thoughts on “Vicki Marble’s Pack Heat Everywhere Act”

FrankUnderwood says:

January 12, 2015 at 11:20 am

But keep in mind, in the eyes of RMGO, the NRA is a bunch of collaborationists working with Michael Bloomberg and Sarah Brady to take away our good given rights under the Second Amendment

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Progressicat says:

January 12, 2015 at 11:22 am

In fairness to (lost her) Marble(s), this idiocy has been up every year since 2011. I can still remember riding in the elevator with Chris Holbert on his way to the hearing for the bill. He was as excited as a little kid at Christmas.

She's only the latest in the long line of wingnuts who think this is some wicked cool legislation.

HB11-1205
HB12-1092
HB13-1162
HB14-1041

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1. FrankUnderwood says:
  
  January 12, 2015 at 11:29 am
  
  Well this time it will probably clear one chamber unless Ellen Roberts votes to put the kibosh on it.
  
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marklane1351 says:

January 12, 2015 at 11:29 am

Let us be honest folks. The NRA stopped being interested in the views of its members long ago. They are now nothing more than a lobbying group that would oppose a bill saying I can't have my own nuclear weapons.

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OrangeFree says:

January 12, 2015 at 11:42 am

Someone should ask the GOP that if more money doesn't improve school, what makes them think that more guns will stop gun violence?

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Moderatus says:

January 12, 2015 at 3:23 pm

So what? If you don't like the bill, vote it down.

I've heard that Democrats are much less unified on the gun control bills then Pols would have you believe. The mag ban could be repealed this year. If Democrats want to win elections again in Colorado, they'd better.

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1. OrangeFree says:
  
  January 12, 2015 at 3:27 pm
  
  you lost the Governor's race. You lost the race for control of the State House. You won the State Senate by a whole one seat.
  
  Oh, I'm afraid the Democrats will be quite operational when 2016 arrives.
  
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  1. Moderatus says:
    
    January 12, 2015 at 4:26 pm
    
    I love it when Democrats talk like the Sith Lord. It fits!
    
    Republicans have the votes to get the repeals out of the Senate. Are you SURE you have all the House Democrats on board? Better check again…
    
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    1. OrangeFree says:
      
      January 12, 2015 at 6:58 pm
      
      That's assuming it will even get a floor vote, which it won't.
      
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notaskinnycook says:

January 12, 2015 at 5:09 pm

It doesn't matter, Moddy. The governor won't sign it and the Rs don't have anything close to enough votes for an override. And why, in the name of common sense are they opposed to people getting some basic training in handling a deadly weapon. Will they next try to repeal the requirement that people get training and be licensed to drive a car?

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1. BlueCat says:
  
  January 12, 2015 at 11:34 pm
  
  No use. Little modster doesn't know how any of this works.
  
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mamajama55 says:

January 12, 2015 at 7:35 pm
So anyone who can legally own a handgun could carry it concealed, except in school, although they could have it in the car in the parking lot. What could possibly go wrong? Kids aren't hormonal. Teachers and parents never get stressed out. Domestic violence never afflicts people in Vickie Marble's district. Accidents never happen. Ms. Marble truly is not very "reality-tethered", as Pols wrote.

I'd like to say it doesn't have a chance in hell of passing.

Here's my same old gun talking points again:
- Extreme pro-gun laws like this one won't pass into law.
- Extreme anti-gun laws (which don't exist in the legislative hopper now) also won't pass into law.
- Kids are still dying and being wounded from gunshots, or harming their family members.
- Kids need firearm safety education. (FSE)
- Firearm safety education would be a compromise between the pro-and anti- gun forces. It would be a way to work together for the common good and to save kids lives. I'm so naive that I think it's possible.
- FSE should take place in schools, and in the media, following the model of the anti-tobacco campaign, which has resulted in an increase in people quitting smoking, and 17,000 fewer smoking related deaths per year,
- The anti-tobacco pro-public health campaigns were largely funded by settlement funds from lawsuits against tobacco companies. I seem to remember that gun manufacturers can't be sued in most states for wrongful firearm deaths. Legal eagles, true or false?
- I think I may have to follow up with buddies in Moms Demand Gun Sense and see what they think. They'd have to compromise with the pistol-packing devil, too.
Anyway, the good people of Windsor and the plains between Greeley and Fort Collins will keep on electing Lost her Marbles, and the RMGO will keep funding her campaigns, until someone comes along with a better message.
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1. gertie97 says:
  
  January 13, 2015 at 9:07 am
  
  I'm with you on gun safety training, Mama. Every middle school kid should take a class. Instructors are already in place statewide — the people who teach hunter safety classes.
  
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notaskinnycook says:

January 13, 2015 at 1:08 am

The only kind of gun I appreciate https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152726414959613&set=a.86041369612.81761.743749612&type=1&theater

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davebarnes says:

January 13, 2015 at 7:20 am

The time has come to ban concealed carry. Only open carry should be permitted. I am pretty sure that the well regulated militia was not into concealed carry.

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1. FrankUnderwood says:
  
  January 13, 2015 at 8:21 am
  
  If the idea of self defense is to discourage an aggressor, wouldn't you think open carry would make more sense?
  
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