Republican Legislator Votes Against RMGO Gun Bill

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by: Colorado Pols

Neville's bill to have CBI certify machine guns dies on 7-4 vote. Rep. @Dan_Thurlow joins Dems against it. #shocking #coleg

— Charles Ashby (@OldNewsman) February 3, 2015

Rep. Dan Thurlow (R).

Yesterday's action in the Colorado legislature on guns was mostly a party-line affair, with gun law rollback bills passing in the GOP-held Colorado Senate and dying in the Democratic controlled Colorado House. But as the Grand Junction Sentinel's Charles Ashby reports, there was one exception to this generally reliable rule:

The House committee also killed an expansion of the state’s law on the use of deadly force to businesses as a defense from prosecution, known as the Make My Day Better Law. Also killed were a bill to protect from liability in a gun-related incident a business that allows guns on its premises, and a measure that would make it easier to transfer military-style firearms, such as machine guns, missiles or grenades, to others. [Pols emphasis]

That last bill was the only one to see a Republican vote against it. That Republican was Rep. Dan Thurlow of Grand Junction.

This wasn't one of the marquee GOP bills repealing 2013 gun safety laws, but rather a significant weakening of protections on the transfer of military-grade weapons, explosives, etc.–weapons that require a much more stringent permitting process than ordinary guns for obvious reasons. The bill would have forced the Colorado Bureau of Investigations to produce a certificate signing off on such a transfer within five days, or a denial. Opponents argued that forcing the checks involved to be completed within five days could result in less thorough screening, which has clear public safety implications when we're talking about machine guns and rockets and stuff.

As Ashby suggests in his Tweet above, it's unusual to see a Republican vote contrary to the desires of the gun lobby, especially when it stands out as prominently as this–the only Republican vote with Democrats on any of these bills. We hope Rep. Dan Thurlow has fully considered the ramifications of defying the powerful Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, an organization that wields the bulk of its power in safe-seat GOP primaries.

You know, like Rep. Thurlow's safe seat.

It's not our intention to criticize Rep. Thurlow's vote, of course. Just a reminder that the gun lobby never forgets.

16 thoughts on “Republican Legislator Votes Against RMGO Gun Bill”

FrankUnderwood says:

February 3, 2015 at 11:59 am

Wtf………he’s got big balls doing that.

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1. notaskinnycook says:
  
  February 3, 2015 at 5:48 pm
  
  What he has, Frank, is a functioning brain and a conscience; nice to see in a Republican in these crazy times.
  
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mamajama55 says:

February 3, 2015 at 12:05 pm

Well, the no-prosecutions-if-something-goes-wrong-in-your-business-from-a-concealed-carrier was Gordon Klingenschmitt's bill. That should tell you something right there.

Apparently, it's bad if a baker has to serve gay people, but OK, if said gays get real pissed and come in with hidden guns to take revenge. Or if a real Murican pistol-packing customer decides to go on point to keep the demonic guys (gays) away. The business shouldn't be sued either way. At least, that's how I read it.

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gertie97 says:

February 3, 2015 at 12:07 pm

Thurlow is a good guy, conservative but not mean or stupid. I think Mesa County may have had enough of the crazies (Jared Wright) and embarrassments (Laura Bradford). Sadly, we still have stupid (Ray Scott).

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1. FrankUnderwood says:
  
  February 3, 2015 at 12:16 pm
  
  When does Steve king get off probation?
  
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2. Moderatus says:
  
  February 3, 2015 at 1:41 pm
  
  Amazing: Republicans have free will? Republicans vote their conscience?
  
  The Democrat party has been the Party of The One for so long, this must appear strange to you.
  
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  1. ArvadaProgressive says:
    
    February 3, 2015 at 1:48 pm
    
    What is the 'Democrat' Party? Are they in some way related to the 'Republic' Party?
    
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  2. BlueCat says:
    
    February 3, 2015 at 1:59 pm
    
    You think you're making a statement by leaving off the "ic". You're correct if the statement you wish to make is that you're only semi-literate.
    
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    1. FrankUnderwood says:
      
      February 3, 2015 at 3:31 pm
      
      English grammar, history, science………how these Tea Baggers ever completed the 8th grade is a mystery to me.
      
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  3. BlueCat says:
    
    February 3, 2015 at 2:02 pm
    
    Your reading comprehension isn't improving. Probably connected to that semi-literate thing. The point is he'll be made to pay. By his fellow Republicans.
    
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dustpuppy says:

February 3, 2015 at 12:49 pm

Wonder if it's me – as Rep. Thurlow is actually a client of mine. Hope my spirit that I left in his rental that he has in Denver (where I actually service) has him rethinking…

But then again, it couldn't be me. I just installed his Internet service last week…

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1. kickshot says:
  
  February 3, 2015 at 1:52 pm
  
  What's that on your head?
  
  Remote Control of the Mind – Over the Internet
  
  http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/09/remote-control-of-the-mind-over-the-internet.php
  
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2. FrankUnderwood says:
  
  February 3, 2015 at 3:33 pm
  
  I didn't think Republicans needed Internet service. I thought they just tilt their tin foil hats for better reception.
  
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  1. Diogenesdemar says:
    
    February 3, 2015 at 3:48 pm
    
    Where the hell do you think those cartoons come from?
    
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  2. dustpuppy says:
    
    February 3, 2015 at 8:27 pm
    
    On the other hand, my other client in another building is a very delightful retired Democratic Latina state Senator (who still wields a lot of influence) that has had a great career and is enjoying her twilight years. So, it kinds of balances itself out.
    
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Negev says:

February 4, 2015 at 12:54 pm

I think this bill may be a loss leader/fluff bill or something… CBI wait time for machine gun transfer is less than 5 minutes currently. The last machine gun transfer I did was 4 months total state and federal – thats more than twice as fast as before. ATF hired 12 more examiners and are pumping out submissions. If this was anything it would be getting LEO off thier ass and hit send on the submission.

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