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Abolish the Big Brother Database Jan. 22, 2004 - Today the Rocky Mountain News published a story about a bill RMGO prompted which gets rid of the statewide database of concealed handgun permit holders, House Bill 1205, by State Rep. Bill Crane (R - Arvada). Though the story isn't entirely accurate, it does set the stage: the Sheriff's association is going to fight to keep this Big Brother database. What Rocky Mountain News reporter Peggy Lowe failed to get right is that under current law (SB24) sheriff's can choose whether to forward their permit holder list to CBI (CBI is hiding the identity of sheriffs who have entered permit holders into this database, but RMGO is pushing for that list). According to the new concealed carry law passed in 2003, that database disappears in 2007 (RMGO lobbied hard to remove that database in the 2003 legislature, while NRA and CSSA lobbied to keep it in). RMGO wants it to disappear immediately. Crane's bill, HB 1205, will only get rid of the statewide database, not the local database (administered by a sheriff). Today's Rocky Mountain News article says it will erase the list from "law enforcement databases". In fact, it erases just one database: CBI's. To determine whether a permit is valid, a LE officer would be able to call the issuing sheriff's office to determine validity (much as it was usually done prior to SB25). To look at a history of this battle, go to: http://www.rmgo.org/CCIC.html This year, institutional gun lobbies will have a tougher time opposing this database. In 2003, they (NRA, Colorado State Shooting Association and others) said that this issue jeopardized the passage of a "shall issue" concealed carry bill. In 2004, they don't have that excuse. What is their dilemma? CSSA and NRA are in a tough spot: on one side is the Sheriff's Association, which wants to keep lengthy records on law-abiding citizens and place them on a database right next to murderers and rapists. And make no mistake about it, the institutional gun lobbies love to curry favor with law enforcement. On the other side is the average permit holder, who doesn't want to be placed in a statewide database with criminals. Though they are likely to sit the fight out and gripe from the sidelines (and give cover to those politicians who vote wrong), where they land on this issue could be telling. The bill was assigned to the Information and Technology committee, where conservatives hold a strong majority. What can you do to make this bill pass? Call your State Representative toll free at 1-800-811-7647 (or local at 303-866-2904) today to urge him/her to co-sponsor the bill immediately. The following State Representatives are already signed on as co-sponsors: Bill Crane (bill sponsor)
If your State Representative's name does not appear on this list, urge him/her to immediately co-sponsor HB1205. To get a list of State Representatives along with their e-mail addresses (please call them as well -- some legislators don't read their e-mails) and phone numbers, Click here The following is the text of the Rocky Mountain News article. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/legislature/article/0,1299,DRMN_37_2594759,00.html Database in cross hairs Some want to ditch listing of permits for concealed guns By Peggy Lowe, Rocky Mountain News January 22, 2004 A conservative House coalition will try to erase from law enforcement databases the list of those who received concealed-carry gun permits. The listing requirement - part of last year's concealed-carry law - makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens, the Republican lawmakers contend, saying the list of weapons holders is often mixed with criminal offenders in computer databases. "I think you shouldn't have to go on a state 'scarlet letter' list for exercising a personal freedom," said Rep. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield. But a sheriff's group says it will fight the move because the listing of permits helps law enforcement more efficiently keep track of who has the right to carry a concealed weapon. "The sheriffs are very concerned that changes in a bill we just enacted are being made without any indication that anything is wrong," said Peg Ackerman, a lobbyist for the County Sheriffs of Colorado. The law, which became effective May 19, requires county sheriffs to issue permits to any law-abiding citizen who is 21 or older, has no felony criminal background, is not under any restraining order and does not have a serious alcohol or drug problem. The person must undergo a fingerprint criminal background check and take and pass a course on handgun safety. The person is also barred from carrying the guns where banned by federal law, such as in airports, public schools and public buildings with metal detectors, or in any private building where they are barred. Before the law was passed last year, each police chief and sheriff in Colorado set his or her own rules for carrying concealed weapons. As a result, the number of permits varied widely from one community to another and record-keeping was a patchwork affair. This year's bill was introduced by Rep. Bill Crane, R-Arvada, who said he worries that others could get access to the database. He also doesn't want police to stop anyone just because they have such a permit. "They will harass a law-abiding citizen who is carrying a weapon," he said. "I have a problem with Big Brother looking over law-abiding shoulders." |