In a bold move, Senator Lamborn (the State Affairs Committee Chairman) took public testimony on both SB63 and Sen. Ken Chlouber's much weaker SB24, but only allowed voting on SB63 (which is the chairman's perogative). His reasoning: 2 ccw bills would split the vote and might kill both bills. SB24 would sit in reserve.

You can see a comparison of the two bills by going to our website at:

Bill comparison

You can also track the progress of all firearms legislation by going to our Billwatch section at:

Billwatch

Lamborn began his testimony by saying that while his bill wasn't perfect, when he was confronted with issues he "erred on the side of freedom for citizens." Lamborn's bill is quite similar to a 1999 bill as well as last year's House Bill 1242 by State Rep. Dave Schultheis. Schultheis is the House sponsor of SB63.

After the laundry list of anti-gun groups testified against Lamborn's bill, another organization testified against the strongest ccw bill ever offered: the Firearms Coalition of Colorado.

Though the FCC claims to be a pro-gun organization, their reasons for opposing a Vermont-style CCW bill were the same reasons as cited by Colorado Ceasefire: there wasn't enough control over citizens in areas like training, background checks, fingerprints, etc.

Len Horner, a board member of FCC, said "I think if you turned everyone lose who wanted to carry a gun, those who believe there will be shootings in the streets might be right."

Why is this important? It illustrates how far to the left many so-called gun groups have moved from a principled position. Even when it became apparent that SB63 was going to pass the committee, and thus be THE CCW bill, these groups still either opposed it or sat silent. The NRA nor CSSA testified in favor of SB63, while both supported Chlouber's bill.

RMGO's Northern Colorado Director Ray Hickman testified in favor of SB63, and warned that to buy into many of the compromises (SB24 makes EVERY compromise we've been fighting to avoid for years) means you accept the anti-gun premises that citizens can't be trusted.

Hickman also warned about the growing issue of entering permit holders into CCIC. For more information on that issue, go to:

CCIC issue

SB63 passed on a vote of 5-1, with Democrat Moe Keller casting the lone vote against the measure. Democrat Sen. Alice Nichol voted for SB63 just as she did for a similar bill in 1999 offered by then-Sen. Marilyn Musgrave and then-State Rep. Scott McKay. The work of these two gun rights stalwarts is still felt in the Capitol.

SB63 is now in line to await a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Waiting is the operative word, since the main members of that committee also are tasked with cutting this year's state budget.

We'll keep you informed of any changes, but check back with our web page often.

RMGO's Executive Director Dudley Brown will guest host AM1460 KHNC's Johnny Rowland program from 1 pm to 3 pm. Brown will host on Tuesdays and Thursdays until Rowland returns.

Johnny was involved in a motocycle accident, and is undergoing surgery. Your prayers are appreciated.