On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, Senator Julie Gonzales (@SenadoraJulie) tweeted:
“Current POV: I am in the Senate State Affairs committee today, where we will be hearing three bills designed to prevent gun violence from harming our communities. It’ll be a long day, but I couldn’t be prouder.”
What a hero! Preventing gun violence in our communities is important.
We must fight to increase firearm education and access, reducing irrational fear and ensuring our armed society can function safely. We must eliminate the “gun-free” zones that make unprotected targets of our most vulnerable populations. We must prosecute criminals that commit gun violence to the fullest extent of the law.
Because the Second Amendment protects our right to self defense, let’s make our American armed society safe, Senator!
Now, let’s look at those bills.
SB23-170: EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER PETITIONS
This bill expands red flag laws.
“The bill expands the list of who can petition for an extreme risk protection order to include licensed medical care providers, licensed mental health-care providers, licensed educators, and district attorneys.”
If SB23-170 passes, the government can declare you at extreme risk via the district attorney and separate you from your firearms. But wait, there’s more!
We’re paying for “a public education campaign regarding the availability of, and the process for requesting, an extreme risk protection order.” But we won’t educate people about firearms.
SB23-168: GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS’ ACCESS TO JUDICIAL SYSTEM
This bill expands people’s ability to sue “firearm industry members” if their loved ones are killed by firearms. That worked so well with tobacco companies.
“Current law limits product liability actions against manufacturers of firearms and ammunition to situations in which there was a defect in the design or manufacture of a firearm or ammunition. The bill repeals that limitation.”
They declare that “firearm industry members” are those “engaged in the manufacture, distribution, importation, marketing, or wholesale or retail sale” of firearms.
SB23-169: INCREASING MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE FIREARMS
The final bill on the agenda for Gonzales’ hearing raises the age to purchase, possess, sell, or transfer a firearm from 18 to 21.
Think about that. My 18-year-old son can die for Ukraine, gun in hand, but he would be prohibited from defending himself or his family at home.
Inexplicably, they also reduce the penalties for selling firearms to minors, from a class 4 Felony to a class 2 Misdemeanor. This is like the formula for the war on drugs.
IS THIS ALL FOR SHOW?
HB23-1230: PROHIBIT ASSAULT WEAPONS IN COLORADO
From my view, these bills are a distraction from the one that makes it a crime to own a firearm.
No big deal. It’s for your safety. Also, the bill does not apply to the military, government, and peace officers because they need to — and totally will — protect you once they take your firearms away. Just look at history. That’s always what happens.
“The bill defines the term “assault weapon” and prohibits a person from manufacturing, importing, purchasing, selling, offering to sell, or transferring ownership of an assault weapon.”
The definition focuses on firearm features of both long guns and handguns.
“Assault weapons are uniquely lethal due to tactical features that are designed for the battlefield in order to injure or kill large numbers of people quickly and efficiently. These tactical features differentiate assault weapons from other firearms. These features include detachable magazines, barrel shrouds, pistol grips, forward grips, and telescoping stocks, which allow a shooter to either conceal the weapon or make it easier to fire a high volume of ammunition in a short period of time while maintaining accuracy.”
Why do we allow Gonzales and the Colorado Communists to openly infringe upon our inalienable rights?
Why do we tolerate the proud and public collapse of the oath in another unwinnable war?
These bills will likely pass through committee and may even become law. Obviously, then legal challenges will commence all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and ultimately, they will be ruled unconstitutional.
If that doesn’t happen, then the Constitution of the United States is no longer active. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Either way, the lawyers will make a fortune. They always do.
Ashe Epp is a writer and election integrity activist. Read her work at asheinamerica.com and follow her on Telegram and other socials @asheinamerica.