Flashbacks to Fifth Grade

For some reason, this whole "let's sit together at the Sate of the Union" thing the Colorado delegation is proposing strikes me as a bit juvenile.  It reminds me of fifth grade when one of the popular girls would feel sorry for snot nose Johnny and get all of her friends to sit with him at lunch.

The thing of it is, there's a good chance that Johnny doesn't really like the popular crowd.  He'd just like to finish his lunch and go finish reading the last three chapters of his book.

Hopefully guys like Rep. Mike Coffman are like SNJ and are serious about getting back to work after lunch is over.  From Mr. Coffman via the Denver Post:

"Now that we have the seating arrangements ironed out, we can get back to the real task at hand, which is getting our economy back on the right track."

The Gun Ban Loophole

As reported elsewhere, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that the dismissal of a suit fighting Colorado University's policy of banning lawful concealed carry on its campuses was in error.  I imagine that this one will go back to district court before the ruling (no matter which way it goes) is appealed.

This ruling definitely helps the fight going on up at CSU.  Colorado State University has even less of a legal leg to stand on at this point and hopefully will be smart enough to see that.  Likely though that mess will also be played out in court.

Bring In The Clone!

I've said it before, but we need more like this guy.

ht to SayUncle

Add Your Name To The Roster

Via Sensibly Progressive, a petition to stop the CSU self defense ban.

RMGO Tells CSU What's Up

Over at Sensibly Progressive, there's a video of members of the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners holding a press conference on CSU campus, discussing the proposed weapons ban.  They do an alright job of framing the issue, but I feel that their presentation would have been more powerful if they had read the relevant part of the law.

18-12-214. Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions.
(1) (a) A PERMIT TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN AUTHORIZES THE
PERMITTEE TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN IN ALL AREAS OF THE STATE,
EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY LIMITED IN THIS SECTION. A PERMIT DOES NOT
AUTHORIZE THE PERMITTEE TO USE A HANDGUN IN A MANNER THAT WOULD
VIOLATE A PROVISION OF STATE LAW. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT
HAVE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT OR ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION
THAT WOULD CONFLICT WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS PART 2.

 (4) A PERMIT ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS PART 2 DOES NOT AUTHORIZE
A PERSON TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN INTO A PUBLIC BUILDING AT
WHICH:
(a) SECURITY PERSONNEL AND ELECTRONIC WEAPONS SCREENING
DEVICES ARE PERMANENTLY IN PLACE AT EACH ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING;
(b) SECURITY PERSONNEL ELECTRONICALLY SCREEN EACH PERSON
WHO ENTERS THE BUILDING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PERSON IS
CARRYING A WEAPON OF ANY KIND; AND
(c) SECURITY PERSONNEL REQUIRE EACH PERSON WHO IS CARRYING
A WEAPON OF ANY KIND TO LEAVE THE WEAPON IN POSSESSION OF SECURITY
PERSONNEL WHILE THE PERSON IS IN THE BUILDING.
(5) NOTHING IN THIS PART 2 SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT,
RESTRICT, OR PROHIBIT IN ANY MANNER THE EXISTING RIGHTS OF A PRIVATE
PROPERTY OWNER, PRIVATE TENANT, PRIVATE EMPLOYER, OR PRIVATE
BUSINESS ENTITY.

CSU is a public university.  This should make it cut and dry.  Unfortunately, there is some precedent which might allow CSU to implement their gun ban.  In May of last year a judge dismissed a lawsuit attempting to overturn a similar gun ban at Colorado University.  It was ruled that the CU Board of Regents was not a local government.  It would stand to reason that if CSU enacts their policy and RMGO files a suit, the suit will hinge on whether the CSU Board of Governors are a local government or an entity with statewide legislative powers like the CU Board of Regents.  Hopefully in the end, the rights of the CSU students, faculty, and staff will not be trampled.

Is CSU Ready For A Battle?

So it looks like the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners are itching for a fight with Colorado State University over their proposed campus gun ban.  That isn't terribly shocking as they tend to be a very politically focused group.  I was however surprised by the Larimer County Sherrif.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said he will attend the announcement Monday in Fort Collins. "I am opposed to the ban, and I don't agree with the policy of trying to ram this down everyone's throat," he said.

The CSU Board of Governors will likely maintain their stubborn, anti-gun, anti-rights stance and vote to prohibit guns on campus.  RMGO will at that point almost certainly sue based on the fact that CSU is a public university and the concealed carry statute in Colorado has a preemtion clause.  This is what is required when someone tries to take rights away.

Here's something to think about.  As I've discussed before, Colorado faces a large budget deficit.  Schools, including universities are targets for budget cuts (just like virtually everything else).  This lawsuit will cost both CSU and the state of Colorado thousands of dollars.  These thousands of dollars come not from government, but from taxpayers and the students of CSU.  The same taxpayers and students who have no desire to see this ban enacted.  The students who will be asked to borrow even more next year, because tuition has to be increased.

These board members are appointed by the Governor.  Something to keep in mind during the November election.  Things like this are why electing a pro-rights Governor is so important.  If John Hickenlooper runs for the office, we must work to defeat him.  Not because he would be a bad Governor overall, but because as a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns he has shown himself to be anti-rights.

Fees On Top of Taxes On Top of Taxes

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is not running for reelection.  That allows him to propose stupid crap like this.

A $10.50 fee on every background check for a gun purchase.  Estimates are that this would give the state of  Colorado an additional $1.6 million next year.  So every gun purchase, I pay local and state sales tax.  If I buy it at Dick's Sporting Goods I also get to pay a retail improvement fee, because the developer that built the mall worked a deal with the city to allow taxes on goods sold to pay for road improvements when building the place.

But apparently those taxes aren't enough to pay for a background check, plus all the other stupid crap state politicians want to spend it on.  The only way I would even be remotely in favor of this is if CCW holders were exempt from the background check, and even then.

The road to smaller government is paved with fees.

Why I Love Politicians

With Colorado facing huge budget shortfalls, it's good to know that our state senator from Aurora is working hard on some possible solutions...wait what?

Apparently, a 1.4 Billion dollar state budget shortfall complete with furloughs, crumbling bridges, and threats of reduced police and fire funding aren't nearly as important as checking to make sure that schools' mascots are appropriately PC.

Senator Suzanne Williams has introduced a bill that requires schools with Indian mascots to either change their mascot or submit it for review by the Colorado Comission of Indian Affairs.  I am sure that when all the fine folks from Aurora voted for Ms. Williams, their desire was that she get to the Senate and get to work on fixing that Indian mascot problem.

Any Excuse

So during my 8 month stint down south, in addition to being sans firearm, I learned that since my regular, trusty Blackhawk! knife - the Silent Partner - has a 3" blade it is not allowed on property either.  Here's a picture of the killer knife.

That meant a trip to the store for a new knife with a blade shorter than 2-1/2".  I mean I have to have a work knife, right?

What I found was a SOG Blink.  What they say is true, once I tried the spring assisted opening I couldn't stop clicking it open and shut.  So far I like it and think it will work well...for a knife with a 2" blade.

As an added bonus SOG knives are "Gunny Approved"

Probably One Of The Few

So recently, due to lack of work in my office, I've had to take an eight month assignment in a town about 300 miles from my family.  In addition to the stress of spending the weekdays away from my family I have an added concern.

The facility that I will be working at is protected by armed guards.  This same facility does not trust me enough to allow me to be armed.  I would imagine that I will be one of the few people that will feel less safe being "protected" by other guys with guns.

Oh and just to add insult to injury I have to find a replacement for my Blackhawk knife because its blade is 1/2" longer than the allowed length.

No Guns or Property Rights Allowed

So I was working off site today, at a plant owned and operated by my company but located on another company's property.  The sign on the way in says...

NO GUNS ALLOWED

PERSONNEL AND VEHICLES MAY BE SEARCHED

Now I knew going in that the company I was visiting had a pretty strict anti-gun policy, but apparently since their headquarters has moved to Chicago, it has gotten even worse.  I have a license and typically carry every day, but today was a definite no go.  I felt completely naked and a little ticked off.  I really dislike when property rights and self defense rights cross paths and purposes.

EDIT:  The company states on its website that they are a long-time supporter of the NRA...hmmm

Stupidity, Followed By Intelligence

In an article over at Points in Case, Rich Monetti makes a very lame case for increased gun control.  College bigot with no knowledge of guns, nothing new here.  What is interesting is the comments.  Well thought out, intelligent rebuttals.  The Canadian has some problems, but he's Canadian, eh.

Don't tell anyone, but I think we might be winning...

Not To Be Outdone

The fine folks at CU noticed that CSU was getting all the gun ban credit and decided to play a game of one-upmanship.  Nerf guns are now banned on CU campuses.  Any Nerf gun sightings will be treated like they were actual guns.

CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard says the school isn't trying to be a killjoy. He says the concern is for others not playing the game who might see a student with a Nerf gun and mistake it for a real gun.

For Reference:

Real Gun...

Nerf Gun...

I used to think I lived in Colorado. I am starting to wonder if somehow unbeknownst to me I moved to California Lite.

HT to Sebastian @ Snowflakes In Hell

Supporting The Students

It seems that the Republican Colorado State senators, unlike the CSU Board of Governors is listening to the will of the people.

Brophy — assistant minority leader — says he is working on a bill that would essentially nullify the proposed ban at CSU. Also, any CSU Board of Governors up for reappointment next year will not be getting his vote.

Here is a politician that, at least on this issue, gets it.  The students at CSU overwhelmingly voted to not fix what isn't broken and continue to allow concealed carry on campus.  The CSU Board of Governors decided that they knew better and moved to disallow concealed carry and force those with a permit to store their weapons in their cars and available for theft.  Senator Brophy wisely notes that the way to fix this issue is to vote out the members of the CSU Board of Governors who do not trust adults who have passed a background check to behave appropriately.

In order to keep our rights we must always remind politicians at every level that we are keeping score.

For extra entertainment, check out the comments, which were at 194 at last check.