February 15, 2013 11:56 AM UTC

Epic Gold Dome Gun Debate Underway

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE 9:28PM: House Bill 13-1228, instituting a fee for background checks, passes on a voice vote with its fiscal note attached. That's almost exactly 12 hours of debate.

UPDATE 9:25PM: HB13-1226, banning concealed weapons on college campuses, passes. 3rd of 4 bills.
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UPDATE 6:00PM: House Bill 13-1229, closing the "background check loophole," passes on a voice vote. That's two of four bills, a long night still lies ahead.

UPDATE 5:55PM: We've been critical of Colorado media for letting Gov. John Hickenlooper mislead the public on fracking fluids, but we applaud coverage of the gun violence debate–at least the coverage from actual journalists–and the media's consistency in pointing out that Republican Rep. Bob Gardner is trying to stifle discussion through his version of a filibuster ("Bobbing"). It's a travesty for Republicans to actively try to inhibit discussion of gun violence, and it's important for the media to be clear about what Gardner is doing.
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UPDATE 5:47PM: As the debate grinds on…

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UPDATE #2: After more than five hours of debate, the first of four gun bills, HB13-1224 limiting the size of ammunition magazines to 15 rounds (amended from 10 rounds) passes the Colorado House on a voice vote.
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UPDATE: It's taking a nasty turn under the Dome today, reports 9NEWS:

Amid already high tensions over gun policy inside the state Capitol, a pro-gun lobbyist was thrown out of the building Friday at the request of a Republican House member.

Rep. Cheri Gerou (R-Evergreen) accuses the lobbyist of threatening her with political attack ads through a mail campaign after a heated exchange about upcoming votes on gun issues, which would violate ethics rules.

State Patrol officers escorted Rocky Mountain Gun Owners' Association lobbyist Joe Neville from the building at Gerou's request.

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FOX 31's Eli Stokols:

One hour into that debate, the Republican minority is already fighting the adoption of a committee report and the amendment raising the limit on magazines to those with more than 15 clips.

“This is an arbitrary number,” said Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker.

The strident opposition to House Bill 1224, one of the two measures the House GOP entered the day with hope of defeating, presaged a long floor fight over the four Democratic gun control measures that Is expected to last late into the night and possibly Saturday morning.

This post will be updated as today's all-day hot air fest unfolds. Watch it live right here: