HB1180 passes both Houses, heading to Governor's Desk

Sen. Greg Brophy (R-Wray) is the sponsor of HB1180, the Brady Bypass bill.

5/08/2009 - The Brady Bypass bill, HB1180 by Rep. Steve King and Senator Greg Brophy, has passed the House and Senate, and is heading for Governor Ritter's desk.

The bill survived a battle in the Senate, where anti-gun lobbyists and legislators tried to amend the bill to require a statewide database of permit holders.

Due to the heroic defense of the bill by Sen. Greg Brophy -- who called the legislation a mere pre-approval, since concealed carry permit holders have already undergone an extensive background check -- the bill stayed true to the intent of the original bill.

Senate Democrats did manage to change the bill with two amendments:

1. Standardizing the look of an actual permit.  Though this is not something we wanted, it's not a deal killer.



2. Requiring a second form of ID to utilize the Brady Bypass feature. Again, no reason to kill the bill.

The process for buying a firearm would not change for a non-permit holder: to buy a new firearm through a dealer (or even a privately sold firearm at a gun show) the purchaser would still be required to undergo an illegal Brady Registration Check (don't think that's unconstitutional?  Read Article II Section 13 of the Colorado Constitution, which says the "...right of no person to keep and bear arms....shall be called into question...").

For a valid Colorado Concealed Carry Permit Holder who is buying a firearm, the process is quite a bit streamlined, though permit holders will be required to have a permit issued after January 2010 (with the new "standardized" look).  They will simply present their CCW permit (again, only Colorado permits allow you to bypass) to a dealer, and they'll skip the wait of a Brady Check (though there are still requirements to fill out the BATFE's 4473 form).

What you can do:

Call Governor Ritter's office at (303) 866-2471 and urge him to sign HB1180.  If you prefer e-mail, click here to demand Bill Ritter sign HB-1180, the Brady Bypass Bill.

Want to help even more?  Become a Force Multiplier!

Our office has literally tens of thousands of phone numbers for Colorado gun owners and freedom activists.

We'd like to contact them all -- and give them the opportunity to be connected (on our dime) to Governor Ritter's office to urge him to allow HB1180 to become law.

But we simply can't afford it -- unless you help, today!

You can donate to this project and become a Force Multiplier by clicking here:

https://rmgo.ejoinme.org/MyPages/SignHB1180/tabid/142529/Default.aspx

But you must do it quickly.  It takes time to set up this kind of program, and we can't afford to do it unless we get a lot of help.

Any amount you can donate -- whether it's $50, $500 or just $5 -- will be used to contact more gun owners to get this bill passed.

Gun owners can get a "Win" in the Colorado Legislature... if you act NOW!

4/1/2009 - This Friday the Colorado State Senate may hear House Bill 1180, which is the Brady Bypass bill.

This legislation would allow a concealed handgun permit holder to show an FFL (a gun dealer) -- or private seller at a gun show -- his or her permit and could then SKIP the Brady Registration check (sales through a dealer would still require the BATFE's 4473 form).

Yesterday on KCOL radio, sponsor Senator Greg Brophy (Rep. Steve King is the House sponsor) called this bill a simple "pre-approval" measure to buy a gun.

Though this bill was gutted in the House Judiciary weeks ago, Brophy managed to have the bill reinstated to it's original form, and the bill could pass the State Senate... but only if you act ASAP!

There is one danger: some law enforcement are claiming they need a statewide database of permit holders to administer this and to be able to verify that permits are real (that's ludicrous, since no one can even produce a case of a fake permit in Colorado).

It's vital we keep any amendments off of this bill.

We need a handful of Democrats to support this pro-gun legislation, so they need to hear from you.

Call these Senators and courteously ask them to support this common-sense legislation, House Bill 1180, without amendments:

Senator Morgan Carroll - 303-866-4879
Senator John Morse - 303-866-6364
Senator Chris Romer - 303-866-4852
Senator Gail Schwartz - 303-866-4871

Of course, it's worth your time to call your own State Senator, regardless of party, to urge his/her favorable vote.

You must act as soon as possible, though.  Leaving a message with their office is fine, but make that call today!

 

Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a>

2008 Colorado Concealed Carry Report

The following report is from the County Sheriffs of Colorado, detailing the number of permits issue (and denied) in each county during 2008.

Report to the Colorado General Assembly
Concealed Weapons Permits Issued by Colorado Sheriffs in 2008
Denial and Revocation codes:  A=Arrest Record, D=Discretionary, R=Residency, RO=Restraining Order, M=Mental Illness or Addiction
County	Applications received	Permits issued	Denials					Revocations
			A	D	R	RO	M	A	D	R	RO	M
Adams	1508	1090	14		3			4		1
Alamosa	53	40						2
Arapahoe	1675	1550	27	4	3	3	2	10	4
Archuleta	106	106									2
Baca	5	5
Bent	8	7
Boulder	724	616	2					7		5	1
Broomfield	168	127		1			1
Chaffee	130	130
Cheyenne	18	14
Clear Creek	84	73	1
Conejos	36	19
Costilla	11	5
Crowley	19	17
Custer	50	50						1
Delta	225	174	1								1
Denver	895	567	16			1		7
Dolores	14	13
Douglas	1594	1228	7	1							2
Eagle	160	109	2
El Paso	3573	3537	12	21		11		3	2		1	3
Elbert	353	322
Fremont	231	227	1	1				1	1			1
Garfield	434	324	4			1		2
Gilpin	66	63
Grand	133	131	2
Gunnison	23	23
Hinsdale	32	32						1
Huerfano	56	56
Jackson	15	15
Jefferson	3292	2314	20	1	3	4	1	21	2		1	2
Kiowa	2	2
Kit Carson	44	22
La Plata	182	151	2		1
Lake	16	14
Larimer	1025	849	3	5		2		6	6		3
Las Animas	64	64						1
Lincoln	60	48						1			1
Logan	45	43			2
Mesa	920	696	5	2		1		8			1	1
Mineral	10	10
Moffat	37	37	1
Montezuma	216	184
Montrose	263	263						3			2
Morgan	82	82
Otero	64	48	1								1
Ouray	40	37	1
Park	206	182	1					1
Phillips	11	11
Pitkin	28	28
Prowers	61	16
Pueblo	459	381	4	4			1	4
Rio Blanco	28	28
Rio Grande	71	71
Routt	171	133						1
Saguache	30	29		1
San Juan	5	5
San Miguel	32	32
Sedgewick	6	6
Summit	111	109	2					3
Teller	250	249	1					5
Washington	10	9	1
Weld	720	834	7			2		1	1
Yuma	38	38
Totals	20998	17695	138	41	12	25	5	93	16	6	16	7

 

 

If you have documented information from a county that fits within the parameters of the below table, either This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax it to 970-482-7646.

 

NOL = No Online Listing for permit information at this time

* = Link to Sheriff's web page

Links to county home pages -
Adams | Alamosa | Arapahoe | Archuleta | Baca | Bent| Boulder |Broomfield| Chaffee | Cheyenne | Clear Creek | Conejos | Costilla | Crowley | Custer | Delta | Denver | Dolores | Douglas | Eagle | Elbert | El Paso | Fremont | Garfield | Gilpin | Grand | Gunnison | Hinsdale | Huerfano | Jackson | Jefferson | Kiowa | Kit Carson | Lake | La Plata | Larimer | Las Animas | Lincoln | Logan | Mesa | Mineral | Moffat | Montezuma | Montrose | Morgan | Otero | Ouray | Park | Phillips | Pitkin | Prowers | Pueblo | Rio Blanco | Rio Grande | Routt | Saguache | San Juan | San Miguel | Sedgwick | Summit | Teller | Washington | Weld | Yuma

 

Attorney General Eric Holder calls for Assault Weapons ban renewal to help Mexico, while CNN's Lou Dobbs dispels Holder's claims

The battle begins: Holder calls for passage of permanent assault weapons ban

Attorney General Eric Holder announced yesterday that President Obama would pursue passage of a permanent Assault Weapons Ban

After meeting with his Mexican counterpart, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Obama Administration is planning to pursue a permanent Assault Weapons Ban.

From ABC News:

"As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons," Holder told reporters.

"I think that will have a positive impact in Mexico, at a minimum," said Holder. He went on to say that he believed that passage of the assault weapons ban would be vital to ensuring domestic stability in Mexico, ridiculously implying that Mexican drug cartels are buying guns from American gun stores.

Since when is it the job of the U.S. Government to police Mexico? Since when are law-abiding American gun owners responsible for the conduct of criminals and thugs in another country?! Why should we pass legislation that will only benefit another country, at the expense of U.S. citizens?

Holder also went on to say that he believed that the Heller Decision would allow for a permanent re-authorization of the assault weapons ban.

"I think closing the gun show loophole, the banning of cop-killer bullets and I also think that making the assault weapons ban permanent, would be something that would be permitted under Heller," Holder said.

This emphasis on policing Mexico's violent drug cartels sheds more light on portions of the recently passed stimulus bill

The stimulus bill included $10 million grant to the notoriously anti-gun Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to fund their task force to stop Mexican gun running. This could very well mean that the Obama administration intends to use $10 million of the so-called stimulus package to maliciously prosecute gun owners.

While Holder was cagey about a time line on this issue, one thing is clear: we have a difficult fight ahead of us.

Holder declined to offer any time frame for the reimplementation of the assault weapons ban, however.

"It's something, as I said, that the president talked about during the campaign," he said. "There are obviously a number of things that are -- that have been taking up a substantial amount of his time, and so, I'm not sure exactly what the sequencing will be."

---

CNN's Lou Dobbs sharply criticized AG Holder and President Obama over assault weapons ban

CNN's Lou Dobbs takes Eric Holder to task for his anti-gun, pro-Mexican Government comments about renewing the assault weapons ban, simply to help Mexico.

 

March 9 class, Wyoming reciprocity at risk, Bills gutted and killed

RMGO is now offering monthly Concealed Carry classes in Fort Collins.  We're scheduling them on the second Monday night of each month, so March 9th is our next class.

Click here to sign up for our March 9th, 2009 Fort Collins Concealed Carry Class.

These classes fill up rapidly, so register in advance to reserve a seat.

For more information on our classes, click here.

---

Wyoming reciprocity at risk, help needed for WyGO!

You might think rural Wyoming safe from the clutches of gun-grabbers, but you'd be wrong.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation issued a letter saying it would end reciprocity with 14 other states, including Colorado, because a "study" revealed permit standards were different in other states.  Of course, the bureaucrats who conducted the study failed to mention that reciprocity agreements between states have done nothing to increase crime and are wildly successful.

Though the WDCI is now backing off of that decision, it highlights the need for a real, no-compromise group in our neighboring state.

Just this fall we helped form Wyoming Gun Owners, and are working to make them a solvent, stable organization that can fight for our issues in Wyoming.

If you'd like to donate to Wyoming Gun Owners (even just a few dollars), click here for their secure, online payment method.

Rest assured we'll be working with WyGO on issues like this.

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Brady Bypass bill gutted while Brophy's Heller Enforcement bill killed

A bill in the Colorado legislature designed to allow concealed carry permit holders to bypass Brady Registration Checks for firearms purchases was heavily amended by the House Judiciary Committee after testimony from the Sheriff's Association and Chief's Association opposing the measure.

Most members of the committee ignored the fact that permit holders already go through a more rigorous background check (including the unnecessary fingerprinting), and are extremely unlikely to commit crimes that would deny them firearms purchases.

The bill passed the committee, but only after it's main goal was gutted.  The legislation, HB1180, now simply conforms Colorado CCW law to federal standards by making applicants attest to U.S. citizenship (which is required by the BATFE for Brady Bypass).

The bill now goes to the full House for debate, and we're working with the sponsor to see if it can be salvaged.

Another bill, SB74, died in the Senate State Affairs Committee.  It would have stripped Denver's "Lock-up-your-safety" law based on last summer's Heller case.

"This means the Heller decision did virtually nothing, since the only gun control law it expressly prohibited is still in place in Denver," RMGO Executive Director Dudley Brown said.

The Senate State Affairs Committee also killed SB8, by Sen. Ted Harvey and Rep. Cory Gardner, which would have expanded the Make My Day law to business owners.

You can track legislation in the Colorado General Assembly here.

---

Another reminder: Fort Morgan shoot March 27-29

The annual .50 cal and Machine Gun Shoot in Morgan County is scheduled for March 27, 28 & 29th.

2009 Annual
	.50 Cal BMG Rifle & Machine Gun FUN SHOOT!
.50 cal BMG	Military Vehicle Display	M4

Printable PDF flier

March 27, 28 & 29, 2009
Morgan County, Colorado 
(70 miles from downtown Denver, directions below , MAP) (Mapquest directions)

Times of Shoot                     Fri. 8:00 am - Dusk
Sat. 8:00 am - Dusk              
Sun. 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Fees:  Spectators $15.00 per day or $25 for the weekend (RMGO members $3 off with coupon from our newsletter)

Don't get our newsletter?  Click here to start!

Children: Ages 6-14, military and LE (with I.D.) $5 per day or $10 for the weekend
(minors must be accompanied by an adult)

Printable PDF flier

We also offer B.Y.O.G. (Bring your own gun) shooter badges for $80 per day.

Fire a Thompson SMG See Huge Artillery pieces firing!

• All Spectators Must Use Hearing & Eye Protection •

• No rain checks - we shoot rain or shine. • No benches shelter or seating provided.  Please bring your own (such as a fold-up chair)

• No alcoholic beverages allowed on the property

•This is NOT a Gun Show - No Gun Sales are allowed

- DIRECTIONS -
From I-76 -- Exit at Hudson (30 miles from I-25) and go East on Highway 52 (though Hwy. 52 curves North to Wiggins, go straight East) for 37 miles on paved/dirt road to intersection of Road F & Road 14 (14 miles east of the Weld/Morgan county border).  Follow the .50 signs!

From I-70 -- Bennett exit go North on State Hwy. 79 for 23 miles to State Hwy. 52 at Prospect Valley; go East on Highway 52 (Hwy. 52 curves North to Wiggins, go straight East) to intersection of Road F & Road 14 (14 miles east of the Weld/Morgan county border).  Follow the .50 signs!

Mapquest directions

Rocky Mountain Fifty Caliber Shooting Assoc.

Students file complaint against CU for campus gun ban

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, along with Mountain States Legal Foundation, has filed a complaint against Colorado University (including all of their campuses), claiming their campus ban on the carrying on concealed firearms for students, faculty and visitors is not legal and is dangerous to those who carry for self defense.

You can read their complaint here, and their backgrounder here.

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners has long championed concealed carry on campus, and will help these courageous students in every way possible.

Dept. of Interior allows some firearms in National Parks; H-S Precision ignores gun owners' concerns

Activists called to put more heat on H-S Precision

The Department of Interior has issued new rules to partially over turn the National Park gun ban

Today the Department of Interior issued their long-awaited new rules regarding the carrying of firearms in National Parks.

The new rules:

...would allow an individual to carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges if, and only if, the individual is authorized to carry a concealed weapon under state law in the state in which the national park or refuge is located.

While these rules are certainly a step in the right they are a far cry from truly embracing our Second Amendment rights.

And they bring up an important question for Colorado citizens: can a citizen carry a concealed handgun in their car, without a permit (which is legal in Colorado and authorized by state law), in a National Park?  We believe so, but we will seek a firm, written answer (which we will post on our website) from the Department of the Interior.

In the meantime we'll count it a small victory, and thank all of those who worked on this issue for so many years (RMGO members included).

Sadly, the fact remains that virtually no one can carry a gun at Minuteman Park in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.  The very National Park that celebrates the armed uprising of our founding fathers, who were fighting against the British attempts to confiscate their firearms, remains closed to concealed carry.

We can -- and should -- celebrate this small tactical victory, but keep our long term goal of concealed carry in all National Parks in mind.

Read the full Department of Interior's full regulations and press release here.

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H-S Precision to gun owners: we don't need your business

Demonstrating the marketing skills of a pipe wrench, the geniuses at HS Precision, who marketed their rifles with a testimonial from an FBI sniper who shot and killed an unarmed woman, (whom he claimed he was not even aiming at) have released the following "statement."

To Our Valued Customers:
H-S Precision has received comments relating to individual testimonials in our 2008 catalog. All of the testimonials focused on the quality, accuracy and customer service provided by H-S Precision.
The management of H-S Precision did not intend to offend anyone or create any type of controversy. We are revising our 2009 catalog and removing all product testimonials.
Sincerely,
The Management of H-S Precision

In spite of almost universal outrage and astonishment by gun owners, (meaning their customers) HS has decided that this anemic response will be enough to put their despicable behavior behind them.

HS Precision thought it was a grand idea to promote their rifles using the services of a man famous for one thing, killing someone he claimed he never intended to shoot.

Now they expect the people who were horrified by this position to accept an explanation that doesn't even reach the level of "lame."

If they build their rifles this way, we strongly suggest you shop elsewhere.

H-S PRECISION, INC.
1301 TURBINE DRIVE,
RAPID CITY, SD 57703
(605) 341-3006 TEL
(605) 342-8964 FAX
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can read more about the FBI's cover-up of Vicki Weaver's murder by Lon Horiuchi, here.

H-S Precision uses Fed Ruby Ridge shooter for marketing

Custom gun shop H-S Precision uses Horiuchi to sell guns to the FBI

South Dakota custom gun shop H-S Precision is using Lon Horiuchi as FBI Program Manager to sell their tactical rifles to the FBI and other federal agencies.

You can see Horiuchi used in an H-S Precision ad campaign:



Horiuchi was the FBI Hostage Rescue Team's sniper at Ruby Ridge, where he murdered Randy Weaver's wife Vicki as she held their young daughter. An Idaho District Attorney filed manslaughter charges against Horiuchi for his involvement in the botched raid on the Weaver household, but he was predictably found not guilty.

Horouchi was also involved in the disastrous raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, TX. Three of the twelve 7.62x51mm sniper rounds fired at the Branch Davidian building were found at Horiuchi's position, though the Justice department has attempted to hide his involvement in the shooting.

A firearms manufacturer using a murderer like Horiuchi is rather like Adolph Eichmann endorsing a pesticide company.

Are you outraged by this?

I know I am, but there is something you can do. Join the boycott of H-S Precision by telling them you won't buy gun from a company that hires a murderer.

Tell them to dump Horiuchi or gun owners will dump them.

You can contact H-S Precision by phone, fax, e-mail or snail-mail at:

H-S PRECISION, INC.
1301 TURBINE DRIVE,
RAPID CITY, SD 57703
(605) 341-3006 TEL
(605) 342-8964 FAX
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can read more about the FBI's cover-up of Vicki Weaver's murder by Lon Horiuchi, here.

Gun owners in peril

The 2008 elections are behind us and gun owners find themselves in greater danger than ever before.

With no major party, pro-gun candidate on the ticket, gun owners were faced with supporting underfunded, third party candidates, or marking their ballots for a candidate that had announced an opposition to gun rights.

So now it is clear, we face the most anti-gun president in American history. With the gains made by anti-gunners in Congress and the Colorado legislature, there is no question that gun owners are facing battles unlike any we have seen before.

The freedom haters toned down their rhetoric for the campaign after learning that gun owners were a potent force and "gun control" lost elections, but there can be no doubt that their goals are unchanged.

While the recent Supreme Court decision has slowed their efforts to ban everything, the court left enough room for almost any restriction to be created and upheld.

So, now our job is clear.  We simply must be prepared for anything, both in Denver and Washington D.C.

The Brady Campaign is already crowing that "The election of Barack Obama as President and Joe Biden as Vice President was a decisive victory for common sense gun laws."

We know what that means.  Bans on modern firearms, government permission slips to own handguns, new restrictions on where you can be in possession of self defense tools and a continuing explosion of delays and denials for firearm purchases.

We have to be prepared to fight. Every day, all the time.

We have been fighting anti-gun legislation in Colorado for over 14 years, even after the anti-gun militants took over. We can keep fighting back the anti-gunners if we stay active and informed. Please be sure to share our e-mails with your freedom loving friends. And please encourage them to join us.

As we head into a new legislative session it is essential that we have the resources to continue to be the only no-compromise voice for gun owners in Colorado. That means, of course, that we will need your help.

If you are already a supporter of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, thank you. If you are not yet, please keep in mind that we are far stronger with you on our side than if you are on the sidelines.

You can contribute to RMGO here: https://rmgo.ejoinme.org/MyPages/RMGODonationPage/tabid/16761/Default.aspx and you can rest assured there has never been a time when we needed your help more than now.

We are heading into a legislative session where virtually all our rights are at risk. We need your support more than ever. The coming battles will be unlike any we have seen before. Please consider anything you can do to promote the cause of freedom.

Look down the ballot....

With all of the attention on the Presidential race -- a race in which, in my opinion, gun owners have no good, viable option -- a voter might forget about the rest of the elections he will be voting upon.

And while I'm interested in what's happening in the Presidential race, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners is focusing on Colorado races.

In other words, look down the ballot a bit...

All of Colorado will be voting on the open U.S. Senate seat, and if our group had a federal PAC, we'd be openly supporting Bob Schaffer against Boulder liberal Mark Udall. Though I wouldn't classify Bob Schaffer a hero, he voted pro-gun when in Congress, even better than the U.S. Senator he's trying to replace.

If you live in Northern or Eastern Colorado, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave can easily be labeled a hero. While in the Colorado legislature her stances and actions for gun owners are legendary, standing up against any compromise of our Second Amendment rights. And in Congress, as Chairwoman of the House Second Amendment Caucus, she has worked tirelessly to regain the rights we've lost.

If you live in Senate District 19 (Arvada/Westminster), you'd have the chance to vote for Libby Szabo, a firebrand of a gal RMGO PAC endorsed early on. She's facing hard-left liberal Evie Hudak, and it looks like Szabo may win despite the terrible environment for Republicans.

Senate District 25 in the Brighton area pits Republican Robert John Hadfield against State Rep. Mary Hodge. Hodge voted against concealed carry (as well as every good amendment to the legislation), against Make My Day Better, in favor of putting concealed weapons permit holders in the criminal database.

Senate District 16 pits proven pro-gunner Don Ytterberg against Democrat State Sen. Dan Gibbs. Gibbs unapologetically supported the extension of the entry of ccw permit holders into the CCIC database, something reprehensible to every gun owner.

Even if you are not motivated by the presidential race, there are other reasons to vote.

Sincerely,

Dudley Brown
Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

Heller decision reaffirms most gun controls

After an initial assessment of the Supreme Court's Heller decision, this decision may go down as the court ruling that stops gun bans but protects gun control.

Click here to read the actual decision.

Though we'll have a more comprehensive analysis of the case later, there is some good -- and a lot bad -- in the SCOTUS decision:

• It reaffirms the Second Amendment as an individual rights, and is unconnected with service in a militia
• It overturns trigger lock requirement laws as unconstitutional

However, it essentially reaffirms the ability of government to license, register and regulate all types of firearms.

In short, it gives a green light to all forms of gun control except the banning of entire classes of arms.

Again, we'll have a full analysis shortly.

A personal note from Dudley Brown, Executive Director

I need to ask a personal favor.

I desperately need to contact more people, to expand our army, or I fear our liberties are in grave danger.

By just forwarding this e-mail, with a personal note of encouragement, to every friend and co-worker you know who believes in the right to keep and bear arms, we can gather new reinforcements for the right to keep and bear arms.

And we're certainly going to need those reinforcements.

The coming 12 months could be the worst ever for Americans who own firearms, or even those who may want to exercise that right in the future.

Why do I say that?

As you watch the unfolding Presidential campaign drama, it is perfectly clear that neither of the major parties is going to nominate a candidate whom even the most starry eyed optimists could term a friend.

Without re-hashing every detail, Sen. John McCain has made a career out thumbing his nose at gun owners across our country while he represents arguably the most pro-gun state in the nation. If he were to represent the entire nation as president, he would undoubtedly cave to the anti-gun cries of California and New York.

And Sen. Barack Obama is dramatically worse. He’s even signed pledges to make all semi-automatic firearms illegal.  But this note isn't about the Presidential campaign itself.

Also troublesome is that the checks-and-balances we might expect from Congress, given the current make-up, will instead be a rubber stamp to the gun control schemes of Sarah Brady and her ilk.

In Colorado, things are not much better. Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter sits in the Governor’s seat, with a State House and State Senate controlled by the far-left side of the Democrat party.

And this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on what could be a landmark case for gun owners -- but it could go in either direction.

Any one of these items is a concern. But taken all together, the coming 12 months -- both on a national level and in Colorado -- should have gun owners biting their nails.

So the real question is: What can we do about it?

I get that question daily: "With all that's happening, what can I do?"

As a 19 year political consultant, I firmly believe our answer is in the mobilization of gun owners -- and those who are willing to fight for the right to keep and bear arms.

You see, holding a position in favor of gun rights is not enough. Actually doing something to advance our gun rights is what is required.

Yes, you can try to convince an anti-gunner (or a neutral person) to change his or her position on the gun issue. That’s called the “Education Theory” of changing public policy.

But changing an individual’s mind on a controversial issue is difficult, at best. Let me illustrate.

You probably know someone in your family who is anti-gun (or at least not pro-gun). Everyone does.

You can spend 4 hours every Thanksgiving and Easter with your anti-gun aunt (who loves you, and whom you love) trying to convince her of the rightness of your arguments about the Second Amendment. And even with that amount of time and good will, it rarely works (though, obviously, honor dictates you make the attempt).

So does it seem logical that a 30 second commercial (costing millions of dollars) from a stranger is going to convince people to change their stance, when countless hours with someone you know didn't?  No, I don't think it seems likely to be effective.  And other methods of "educating" have the same premise. 

This displays what I believe is our problem: so many "gun rights leaders" subscribe to this education theory, and I don't believe it gets us anywhere.

Yes, we’ve all convinced someone to change their position. Most of us have a success story, but most often a change in mind comes from a real-life circumstance, not idle chatter.

So if “education” doesn’t win for the side of freedom, what does?

Mobilization.

The mobilization of our side is the key to victory, not education. As the saying goes "Ideas do not have consequences, only actions."

Mobilizing gun owners across Colorado (and across our country) is the vital link to changing public policy.

It doesn’t take 51% of the public.

It takes a determined group of activists who fight smart and hard.

Which is exactly why I am sending you this note today.

I’d like to ask you a personal favor.

Please forward this e-mail to everyone you know who believes in the right to keep and bear arms, especially those who live in Colorado.

Tell that group of people “I trust Dudley Brown at Rocky Mountain Gun Owners to fight hard for our constitutional right to keep and bear arms -- I hope you'll take action, and join with us in this crucial time."

Then ask them to subscribe to our low-volume, no-spam Colorado gun rights alert list by clicking here.

In other words, help me mobilize your friends and co-workers.

Of course, we’d love to have them as donors and members of RMGO.

And if that’s something you, or they, would like to do right now, you can donate through our secure online form by clicking here.

But more importantly, let’s get them involved -- in even a small way -- in the battle to save our rights.

The next 12 months are demanding our attention.

Without question, we are in a pivotal point for gun rights.

So let’s call in some reinforcements. Let’s build our army for freedom.

Sincerely,

Dudley Brown
Executive Director

P.S. The next 12 months are pivotal for our gun rights.

And so I’m asking you to do me a personal favor.

Please forward this e-mail to everyone you know who believes in the right to keep and bear arms, especially those who live in Colorado.

Tell that group of people “I trust Dudley Brown at Rocky Mountain Gun Owners to fight hard for our constitutional right to keep and bear arms -- I hope you'll take action, and join with us in this crucial time."

Then ask them to subscribe to our low-volume, no-spam Colorado gun rights alert list by clicking here.

Ritter vetoes the Brady Bypass bill; Last day before Life Member, T-Shirt price increases

5/15/09 - Despite the hundreds of calls and e-mails his office received, Colorado Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter today vetoed HB1180, the Brady Bypass bill, showing his anti-gun bias and setting the tone for his 2010 re-election campaign.

The bill would have allowed Colorado concealed carry permit holders -- all of whom have already undergone an extensive background check and fingerprinting -- to skip the Brady Registration Check when purchasing a firearm, since they've already proven they are law-abiding.  Brady Registration Checks are currently taking hours, and effectively denying citizens their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

The bill passed the legislature with 19 Democrat votes, showing it had broad bi-partisan support (almost one-third of the Democrat Caucus in the Colorado General Assembly).  Senate sponsor Greg Brophy (R-Wray) called the bill a mere "pre-approval process" for a firearms purchase.

Anti-gun activist Tom Mauser and many "law enforcement" agencies (who testified against the bill) are undoubtedly happy to have Gov. Ritter in their pocket.

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Today is the last day for a $500 Life Membership to RMGO

At midnight tonight the price for our Life Membership will increase to $750, so we want to give you one last opportunity to save some money (many already have).

Click here to become a Life Member

What kind of benefits do Life Members get?

1. Complimentary pass for any Concealed Carry Class RMGO teaches.

2. A handsome, metal Life Member's pin.

3. A Life Member's card.

4. Future discounts at events (like our big .50 cal shoot), gun shows and gun shops

5. Life access and unlimited firearms postings on Cologunmarket.com, Colorado's premier private sale firearms bulletin board.

6. The knowledge that you are doing everything in your power to stop the erosion of our Second Amendment rights.

You can join as a Life Member here.

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Introductory T-Shirt offer ending today as well

With the new postage price increase we were forced to raise the prices on our T-Shirts.  So today is the last day before that price increase.

Our gameplan was to get these shirts in circulation by offering them at exactly the price is costs us to print and ship them.  And we've sold more than 600 shirts in two weeks at our introductory price!

Note: we just received our re-stock of black shirts, and will be sending out those orders today.

Click here to order shirts!

 

 

 

Nebraska climbs out of the Stone Age, plans on reciprocity agreement

9/10/09 - For gun owners who travel through or hunt in Nebraska, that state has always been a problem.

Though rural, their unicameral legislature has certainly not been a beacon of conservatism.  They only recently passed a "Shall Issue" concealed carry law, lagging behind a majority of states, and seemed reticent to grant reciprocity to other states.

I've hunted in Nebraska for the better part of two decades now, and have heard from many frustrated Nebraska citizens as well as visitors to their state.  Lots of great hunting there, and a big football state (but what do I care -- I'm a hockey nut), but they've always been an anomaly for rural states and gun rights.

 

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