Colorado Democrats are coming for your firearms, It's only a matter of time before they come to get yours

Gregory Kielma • Apr 01, 2024

Colorado Dems push sweeping gun control laws that are flying under national radar: 'Public is fed up'This is a subtitle for your new post

Colorado Govenor Jaris Polis 

Colorado Dems push sweeping gun control laws that are flying under national radar: 'Public is fed up'

Story by Emma Colton


Colorado Democrats are pushing a series of gun control bills that mirror policies in liberal states such as California but have overwhelmingly flown under the radar in the media, Second Amendment experts say. 

"This should be making national news as it doesn’t just impact Colorado, but the nation as a whole," Ava Flanell, a firearms instructor in Colorado Springs, told Fox News Digital. "Lawmakers are using these outrageous bills as blueprints, changing the state names and implementing them across the country at a state level because they don’t have the votes to do it nationally. 

"Last year, it was Washington where they all passed, and the laws are decimating gun stores without a single positive impact on crime. Today, it’s Colorado. These same bills will show up in other states tomorrow if we don’t come together as a whole to fight this."

State Democrats are pushing a gun control blitz this year, including a bill that would ban so-called "assault weapons," which is typically understood as a semi-automatic rifle, like an AR-15; enact an 11% tax on gun and ammunition sales; and increase standards for concealed handgun training classes. Another bill would prohibit gun owners from carrying in "sensitive" areas, such as parks, banks and college campuses. 

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The bills are under consideration by lawmakers in the state’s General Assembly, where the Democratic Party controls both chambers. The state’s governor, Jared Polis, is also a Democrat, meaning the party has a Democratic trifecta in the Centennial State. 
 
The state’s House Judiciary Committee in March advanced a bill that would ban "assault weapons," sending the bill to the full House, where it’s anticipated to receive support from the Democratic majority. 

Out of the legislation introduced this year, Flanell took issue with the state’s move to ban types of semi-automatic firearms. 

"The so-called 'assault weapons' ban bill is the most concerning, but they all have tragic consequences for law-abiding citizens. The ‘assault weapons’ bill is incredibly deceptive. They want to ban not only every kind of ‘scary’ gun like ARs and AKs, but also 80-90% of semi-automatic firearms popular today, including handguns and shotguns," Flanell said. 

She said the language in the bill is broad and would ban not only the guns, but also firearm features such as "a foregrip, adjustable stock, pistol grip, barrel shroud."

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"The bill sponsors claim these features increase lethality, when, in fact, they don’t. They’re merely cosmetic. A muzzle brake, which could be interpreted as a compensator, is another characteristic lawmakers have decided to make a firearm 'more lethal.' Muzzle brakes are one of the most popular features to tame recoil and are growing in popularity among female shooters, those who lack upper body strength or have physical limitations." 

Antonia Okafor, the founder and president of a nonprofit firearm education group called EMPOWERED, told Fox News Digital Colorado’s moves to ban guns such as AR-15s would leave women especially vulnerable to crime. 

"After seven years of training women, it is abundantly clear that women prefer an AR-15 for the defense of their home, their family and themselves," Okafor, a sexual assault survivor, told Fox News Digital. 

"Despite the anti-gun rhetoric pushed by the media and gun control organizations, the AR-15 allows women to have a larger firearm without having to physically absorb as much recoil as a smaller, handheld firearm. The AR-15 makes it easier for those who have a physical disadvantage to have an upper hand against an attacker and creates a larger perimeter of protection. Simply put, a firearm levels the playing field." 

The bill, co-sponsored by Democratic state representatives Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernandez, both from Denver, defines an "assault weapon" as a "semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine, or that may be readily modified to accept a detachable magazine, and has one or more of the following characteristics," including features such as a pistol grip or thumbhole stock and "any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand.
 
"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 bill’s summary states. "The bill further prohibits a person from possessing a rapid-fire trigger activator. A person in violation of the prohibitions will be assessed a first-time penalty of $250,000 and $500,000 for each subsequent violation."

Hernandez said the bill becoming law would protect the community from mass shootings.

"The vast majority of Americans and over 80% of Democrats support an assault weapons ban and are fed up with weapons of war in our communities," Hernandez said after the bill passed through committee. "My entire childhood, I was afraid to die in school because adults wouldn't be bold enough on guns, and those fears only grew when I became a teacher and I saw my students struggle with those same anxieties. We must take action to protect our communities, especially our students, from the death and destruction assault weapons inflict on so many innocent people."

Flanell told Fox News Digital Colorado’s "anti-gun lawmakers are undoubtedly out of touch with Americans' support of the Second Amendment," citing how the U.S. recently became a constitutional carry majority nation. 

"Twenty-nine states currently have constitutional carry. While over 50% of the country recognizes the Constitution, states like Colorado are going backwards," Flanell said. "Our homicide by firearm rate has surpassed the national rate for the first time in over 40 years, while states who have passed constitutional carry are seeing a decrease.

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"This comes after Colorado lawmakers have already enacted gun control measures such as universal and expanded background checks, magazine capacity limits, safe storage, red flag laws, etc. And the state has even created their own Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The same trend of higher crime with more restrictive gun laws has been proven repeatedly in other states, and politicians refuse to recognize that the firearm violence occurring is overwhelmingly not from legal firearm owners."
J
ust last month, Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed 30 gun control bills, including one that would have made it a misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer so-called "assault firearms" and another that would have banned guns on college campuses and buildings owned by public universities and institutions of higher education. Democrats in that state hold control of the General Assembly but do not have enough votes to override the Republican governor's vetoes. 

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Flanell is the founder and owner of Elite Firearms & Training in Colorado Springs, which she opened in 2013 after the death of her mother, who also was a gun instructor in the state, Flanell told Fox News Digital. 

"In 2012, my mom, who was a firearms instructor, sadly passed away. I moved back to Colorado from New York City, where I had been living for eight years, to help my dad with the family businesses. A week before my mom passed away, I shot my first firearm with her instruction. At that point, I knew very little about firearms and was determined to learn as much as I could, so I could help keep my parents’ businesses alive and thriving," she said. 

She told Fox Digital that from what she heard from fellow law-abiding gun owners and supporters of the Second Amendment, "the public is fed up" with the state’s push to enact further gun control measures. 
 
"Roughly 600 people signed up to testify against the ‘assault weapons’ ban bill, and testimony was cut at 12 hours with hundreds still waiting to testify," Flanell said. "Colorado has over 2,500 federal firearms licensees, which means they have a license to sell firearms. In my opinion, every one of these people should have been standing at the Capitol fighting this as it will undoubtedly decimate their business if this law passes. Understandably, many feel exhausted by the constant assaults on their rights, but right now is not the time for any gun owners or stores to be complacent."

Yet another bill under consideration, HB 24-1310, would repeal an existing exemption and prevent school staff such as teachers from carrying on school grounds. 

"Colorado law currently allows for individual school districts to determine their own armed security protocols, something that is often utilized by charter schools and rural districts across the state," Flanell said. "I’ve personally certified school employees to carry on school grounds. One particular school is located over 20 miles from their sheriff’s office. If there’s an active shooter, children and staff don’t stand a chance if they relied on law enforcement response."

Flanell cited research showing most mass shootings unfold in "gun-free zones" where criminals are less likely to be confronted by an armed good Samaritan. 

The "assault weapons" ban bill, combined with a bill that would assess gun and ammo sales with an 11% tax and a bill that would prevent legal gun owners from carrying guns in areas defined as "sensitive," such as college campuses, parks and places of worship, resembles legislation signed into law in California. 

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The Golden State earlier this year called on a federal circuit court to reverse a lower court’s decision on California’s ban on semi-automatic weapons after the law was found unconstitutional. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom last year also signed into law an 11% state tax on guns and ammo and another bill that prevents gun owners from carrying in areas described as "sensitive." California is the only state in the nation with the additional tax.

Washington state also went on a recent gun control blitz, with the governor signing bills into law that banned "assault weapons," enacted a 10-day waiting period to buy a gun and requires gun makers and dealers to take "reasonable steps" to keep guns from "dangerous individuals."
 
Flanell said the bill that would ban "assault weapons" is the "scariest" piece of gun control legislation but noted she’s watching the other bills as well. She argued the bill that would tax gun owners 11% to purchase guns and ammo would have drastic effects on lower-income Americans who want to protect themselves. 

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"Most of these proposed bills in Colorado will hurt the underprivileged the most, ensuring only the wealthy can protect themselves or express their constitutionally protected right," Flanell said. "Firearms are not inexpensive, averaging a little more than $500 each. When you add an 11% tax to that and on ammunition, it adds up quickly. Especially for someone to maintain proficiency with their firearm. They need to practice, and they can’t afford it at a time when most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck." 

Flanell argued the tax is a "sin tax," adding, "self-defense is not a sin; self-defense is a human right."

"Another pending bill, HB24-1270, requires gun owners to get liability insurance," Flanell said. "Not only does this increase the cost for gun owners, but I think it will be difficult to find a company that will cover them, making the few companies that do a monopoly. As we’ve seen with banks, many merchants refuse to do business with gun stores and gun-related accessories and training, often dropping accounts without notice. 

"My goal was and has always been to help people learn in a safe, fun environment, but I really wanted to be a resource and role model for women." 

Original article source: Colorado Dems push sweeping gun control laws that are flying under national radar: 'Public is fed up'

By Gregory Kielma 04 Oct, 2024
Man accused of trying to smuggle gun into football game Gregg Kielma Just another ill-informed person that doesn’t know the “rules”. Take the CCW class offered by Tactical K Training and Firearms. Know the law and know your rights says FFL, Firearms Instructor, Gunsmith and First Aid Fundamentals Instructor Gregg Kielma… Read carefully, know the laws and your right or go directly to jail, no get out of jail free card. THINK! A Manatee County man is in custody after detectives say he tried to sneak a gun into a high school football game. According to Bradenton Police, Rasheim Alexander Reckley was walking into the Manatee High School football game on Sept. 30. A metal detector alerted deputies to the presence of something in his satchel. School guardians pulled him to the side and searched the bag where they found a magazine. Further inspection found a weapon. When officers asked Reckley why he had the weapon, he told officers he had CCW permit and didn’t know it was illegal to carry a weapon onto school grounds. He is in the Manatee County jail.
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What would be the impact of an "assault weapon" ban passing? What would happen if an "assault weapon" ban does not pass? Gregg Kielma Assault Weapon? no such thing.....please read on says Gregg Kielma. If an “assault weapon” ban DID pass, then Honest Law-Abiding Citizens (the people who do NOT commit deadly shooting crimes) will give up possession of and NOT own guns that are used in fewer than 500 homicides out of about 20,000 US homicides Every Single Year! And while Honest Law-Abiding Citizens are NOT owning and ARE giving up their “so-called” assault weapons, criminals (the people who DO COMMIT deadly shootings) WILL STILL possess any and every type of gun they choose, because they do NOT obey laws, including bans! “Ban does not pass?” If a ban does not pass, things will basically be the same. Liberal judges, Liberal District Attorneys and Liberal Defense Attorneys will continue to enable criminals with lengthy arrest records to freely walk the streets and commit even more crimes! If anyone disagrees with my assertion about Liberal Judges and Attorneys, I suggest you watch/listen to the news and educate yourself. Everyday criminals with lengthy records are arrested, causing law abiding citizens to ask, “Why was a career criminal, like that, free and on the streets to begin with?”
By Gregory Kielma 03 Oct, 2024
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By Gregory Kielma 28 Sep, 2024
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By Gregory Kielma 21 Sep, 2024
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Ha, I’d love to know what kind/caliber and how often she trains with it,” competitive shooter, GunsOut TV founder and CNN commentator Shermichael Singleton posted on social media. Podcast host and former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly jumped in, too. “KH: we’re not taking anyone’s guns away. Truth: She is literally on camera saying she supports a mandatory buy-back program.” Kyle Smith posted on X about the vice president’s track record on gun confiscation as well. “Um Harris did support mandatory gun confiscation aka ‘buybacks’ and the people deserve an explanation of why she has reversed course on this, ABC News.” Smith posted a Bloomberg News article after his comment with the headline “Kamala Harris Supports Mandatory Buyback of Assault Weapons.” Outkick founder and sports and political commentator Clay Travis also added some important questions in his post about the remark. “Kamala owns a gun? Where does she keep it? Aren’t they illegal in DC? 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Record of Concern Americans who value their Second Amendment rights can make their voices heard at the ballot box on Nov. 5. There are estimates of 10 million hunters who remain unregistered to vote, and over 22 million Americans who purchased a firearm for the first time since the previous presidential election. That’s a tidal force in a close-polling election and NSSF urges everyone to #GUNVOTE.Vice President Kamala Harris has a 20-plus-year fervently antigun record. Her top surrogates still vouch that she supports gun confiscation, upending the U.S. Supreme Court with antigun justices, “reimagining” the Constitution and would be more radical on gun control than she is right now as partner in the Biden-Harris administration. Don’t Risk Your Rights. #GUNVOTE on Nov. 5.
By Gregory Kielma 21 Sep, 2024
Did Biden falsely say that “you can buy whatever you want” at a gun show with “no background check”? Gregg Kielma Well, first you must know what you can buy at a gun show, right? Private sales - where the seller is not in the business of transacting guns. He has the inclination to sell something of his collection but doesn’t buy and sell guns as a primary means of getting a profit. Nope - no background check there in most states. But to say this is a gun show failure is flat wrong. A gun show is merely a convenient place to be selling a gun as that is where the buyers are. You don’t try to sell collectible beanie babies or postage stamps at a gun show, that’s not where the buyers are. The key here is that these are private sales using the convenience of a concentration of gun buyers. The last group is people selling because that’s their business. Those are DEALERS and as such must be FFLs and therefore must run a background check. The exception is in 22 states where the ATF says their carry permit is a good substitute for the NICS check. Texas is one such. For a dealer at a gun show Biden is lying. A check is required. So, what is the actual ratio of dealers to private sellers? About 99:1 from my observation. Perhaps 199:1. The reason is that a private vendor must rent a table and have alarmed cables securing his small inventory. To show one gun he must disconnect the cables, meaning for that interval none of his guns are alarmed, and can disappear in the crush of a crowd. Secondly, he really can’t have much of an inventory lest the ATF thinks he’s in the business of selling. Net result, given the competitive pricing of the other vendors, and cost of the table rental, he won’t sell enough to much cover his costs. So, Joe, you get 5 out of 5 Pinocchio’s. You twist the truth to fit your narrative. Shame on you.
By Gregory Kielma 21 Sep, 2024
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By Gregory Kielma 21 Sep, 2024
Ohio Man Sentenced For Making False Statements To Purchase Firearms And Unlawful Sale/Transfer Of Firearms To Juveniles Monday, September 16, 2024 U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – United States District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Gabriel Gladman (23, Akron, Ohio) to four years in federal prison for making false and fictitious statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer with the intent to purchase firearms, and unlawful sale/transfer of firearms to juveniles. Gladman was also ordered to forfeit the following: a Smith & Wesson (SD40) semi-automatic firearm, a Taurus G2 semi-automatic firearm, a Glock 26 semi-automatic firearm, a FMK 9C1 semi-automatic firearm, 2 - Taurus G3 semi-automatic firearms, and 2 - Tara TM-9X semi-automatic firearms which are traceable proceeds of the offense. According to court documents, on eight separate occasions between November 2022 and June 2023, Gladman provided false information to federally licensed firearm dealers in Tampa with the intent to purchase eight semi-automatic firearms. On six separate dates, Gladman sold/transferred some of those firearms to juveniles under the age of 18. It was determined that some of those firearms were used by the juveniles during violent crimes in Tampa. At the time of Gladman’s arrest in Ohio, he was found in possession of two additional firearms. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky will handle the forfeiture. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
By Gregory Kielma 11 Sep, 2024
Kamala Harris: Firearms and The Second Amendment. She Wants Are Guns. A Lying Democrat Can Never Be Trusted WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris surprised some viewers during her debate with Donald Trump when she said that she's a gun owner, raising the fact to counter her Republican opponent's accusation that she wants to confiscate firearms. “Tim Walz and I are both gun owners,” Harris said, referencing her running mate. “We’re not taking anybody’s guns away.” Harris previously talked about owning a gun in 2019 during her first campaign for president. “I am a gun owner, and I own a gun for probably the reason a lot of people do — for personal safety,” Harris previously said. “I was a career prosecutor.” At the time, her campaign said that Harris purchased a handgun years earlier and kept it locked up. A spokesperson did not provide any additional details when asked on Tuesday. The exchange about gun ownership came as Trump tried to paint Harris, who started her political career as a San Francisco district attorney, as radically liberal. “She is destroying our country,” he said. “She has a plan to defund the police. She has a plan to confiscate everybody’s gun. She has a plan to not allow fracking in Pennsylvania or anywhere else.” Harris rebutted each of Trump's allegations, adding that he should “stop with the continuous lying about this stuff.” Trump claims he wanted to send Harris a 'MAGA hat' for copying his policies Walz, the Minnesota governor, has also talked about gun ownership and boasted of his marksmanship. Republicans frequently describe Democrats as a threat to the Second Amendment, while Democrats describe their proposals as common sense measures to protect public safety. Harris has called for implementing universal background checks and expanding red flag laws to take away guns from people who are deemed dangerous or unstable. She also wants to ban so-called assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
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