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POSTAL PATRON
February 15, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 6
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Democrats roll out gun-control package Opponents see liability measure as ban By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Democratic state lawmakers on Feb. 5 unveiled a gun-control legislative package, which in part calls for required background checks for all gun buyers and strict liability for owners and sellers of assault weapons. But the ideas aimed at curbing gun violence, which were announced by leaders of the General Assembly’s controlling party during a morning press conference inside the state Capitol, were immediately met with stiff opposition by gun-rights advocates. Democratic leaders — who were joined at the event by people whose lives have been affected by gun violence — announced eight pieces of “gun safety” legislation, which they said is needed in the wake of shooting massacres that continue to make headlines around the country. “As a civilized society, we cannot stand back and wait for another Columbine, another Aurora,” said House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver. Some of the efforts announced Feb. 5 came as no surprise — guncontrol legislation has been high on the list of priorities for Democrats this session. But perhaps the bill that will cause the greatest amount of ire for Republicans and gun advocates is one aimed at creating strict financial liability
for makers, sellers and owners of assault weapons. Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, who will sponsor the Assault Weapon Responsibility Act, said his bill will make assault weapons makers, sellers and owners “liable for 100 percent of the damage” caused by “military style” assault weapons that are used in the commission of crimes. “The sickness of violence is spreading through America like a plague,” Morse said. Morse insisted that the legislation would not constitute a ban on assault weapons, and that it would not impact handguns, bolt action rifles and shotguns. But Morse’s bill was met with ridicule by conservatives. “That’s a frightening prospect,” said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray. “I can’t believe how extreme that is.” Brophy quipped that the ban is a “clever,” back-door way of banning assault weapons because it would create an environment where gun makers would stop manufacturing their products out of concern for being held financially liable, if those weapons get in the wrong hands. Brophy said that holding essentially every party associated with an assault weapon liable is akin to “holding Coors and 7-Eleven liable” when someone robs beer from a convenience store and then gets drunk and causes a drunken-driving accident. Dudley Brown, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, said Morse’s bill is “a function-
Senate president John Morse talks in the west foyer of the state Capitol during a press conference on a comprehensive gun safety plan Feb. 5.
Victims of the Aurora theater shooting bow their heads while holding photographs of their lost loved ones. Jessica Watts, right, talks about losing her cousin in the Aurora shooting last July as well as one of her former high school classmates to gun violence during a press conference on Feb. 5. Photos by Andy Carpenean al ban” on assault weapons. He also said that people who commit gun crimes “should be held accountable the same way” as people who commit crimes with knives or other types of weapons. The legislative package contains other types of gun control efforts. Rep. Rhonda Fields, DAurora — whose son was shot to death in 2005 before he was scheduled to testify in a murder trial — is sponsoring two bills that would require background checks for all gun buyers, as well as a ban on high-capacity magazines used in certain types of weapons. “They have no place in our communities and they have no place in our streets,” Fields said of ammunition-feeding devices that accept more than 10 rounds of bullets. Other Democratic bills would address mental health issues; keep domestic violence offenders from possessing guns; require in-person training for those who seek concealed carry permits; and take other actions. Count Brophy and Brown among those who are staunchly
opposed to all the efforts put forth by Democrats Feb. 5. “None of these ideas that (Democrats) were talking about today will make anybody safer,” Brophy said. Brown said that he intends to pound the proverbial pavement in opposition to Democratic efforts’. “We’re going out in legislators’ districts … and tell gun owners, ‘This is what (lawmakers) are doing to your rights,’” he said. It’s unknown at this time how many of the bills will end up being supported by the Democratic Party’s leader, Gov. John Hickenlooper, who did not attend the Feb. 5 event. Eric Brown, Hickenlooper’s spokesman, said in an emailed statement: “The governor supports universal background checks and is open to a discussion about magazine limits and other ideas designed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.” As for Morse’s bill, the governor’s office intends “to carefully study the liability legislation proposed by Sen. Morse and appreci-
ate his effort to put a creative idea on the table.” Hickenlooper was scheduled to meet with the president of the National Rifle Association Feb. 7, in a meeting that was set up prior to the lawmakers’ press conference. Democrats feel the public is on their side in this debate. Certainly, they have the support of at least a few people who lost loved ones in recent gun violence tragedies. One of them is Jane Dougherty, a Denver resident whose sister, Mary Sherlock, a psychologist at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School, was gunned down during the mass shooting that occurred there in December. “She lost her life running toward a gunman, armed with an assault weapon, an AR-15,” Dougherty said at the press conference. “Assault weapons are weapons of war. They belong on the battlefield. They have no place in a home. “We must do better,” she continued. “We must make changes. We are here to tell our elected leaders: Enough!”
Solar conference brings together industry leaders By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com Representatives of the Colorado solar industry packed the Westin Westminster last week during Solar Power Colorado, the state’s largest business to business solar conference and expo. This year’s three-day event, Feb. 4-6, was sponsored by Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, COSEIA. The theme was “The Path to a Million Solar Roofs,” based on a campaign focused on a strategic approach to reaching the equivalent of a million solar roofs in Colorado by
2030 through solar projects of all sizes, from utility-scale to commercial residential. “This event brings together some 400 solar businesses in Colorado,” said COSEIA executive director Neal Lurie. “It’s an opportunity for people in the industry to come together and identify more job opportunities, more opportunities to grow within the industry and an opportunity to discuss innovative ways to drive down solar costs to consumers.” The conference featured a kick-off reception with former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, then two full days of solar presentations and programs from some of the
top leaders in the industry. Those who attended also had the opportunity to check out the latest solar technology and equipment in the exhibit hall. Lurie said the reason for the million solar roofs campaign is to have a platform to discuss, in a relatable way to the general public, the fact that the solar industry is growing. “People can relate to what it looks like to see a solar roof,” he said. “With today’s lower solar costs, it’s providing tremendous opportunities for people to save money on their electricity bills.” Lurie said what’s great about solar energy is that people can predict what their energy bill will
look like each month. He said with solar power, business are able to plan their budget accordingly when it comes to their utility bills, which is a great benefit. “Solar is entirely predictable,” he said. “It removes the economic risks that families and businesses have in terms of their utility bills.” Lurie said the goal of the conference was to lay the foundation for “The Path to a Million Solar Roofs.” He said some ways to achieve this goal is to work with cities and counties to be to help them become more solar-friendly and also work with policy makes to remove some of the policy barriers that can make it more diffi-
cult for consumers to go solar. “It’s also really important to be involved in public outreach and connect with those who want to go solar,” he said. “We are also working to re-enforce the importance of building strategic partnership with like-minded organizations.” For more information on COSEIA or Solar Power Colorado, visit www.coseia.org.
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