Woman Kills Suspected Pedophile (Video)

By Susan Duclos

Forsythia Eliese Owen, 30, of Englewood Colorado has confessed to killing Denzel Rainey because a female child accused Rainey of sexual abuse. Owen told police she went to the alley with a baseball bat, where 42 year-old Rainey slept and proceeded to beat him.

Owen claims the child told her Rainey sexualy molested her.

Rainey's injuries are being reported as both arms, six ribs and his left hand was broken. He was found unresponsive and later died of his injuries in the hospital.

Owen is locked up in the Arapahoe County Detention Facility.

Cross posted at Before It's News

A Race For The 51st State (Video)

By Susan Duclos

First eight counties in northeastern Colorado wanted to secede and create their own 51st state, then came  five counties in Western Maryland, and now a grassroots citizen movement from Northern California residents has begun with the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors taking the first step in what would be a long journey, by voting 4-1 in support of a citizen-led initiative “to commence the Constitution’s Article 4, section 3 process of carving out a new state from an existing state just like the state of Maine was created out of the state of Massachusetts,”  said Supervisor Marcia Armstrong.

What the residents pushing to secede want, in each case, is similar. They want local control, smaller government and gun rights, and feel their elected liberal officials are giving them the exact opposite and are not representing their voice in their state.

Gigi Erneta discusses these movements to secede in the video below.

Cross posted at Before It's News

Colorado Flood: Dams Break, Thousands Evacuate (Stunning Video and Photos)

By Susan Duclos

According to reports the floods in Colorado have broken through at least six dams, thousands have evacuated from the record breaking rainstorms that have hammered residents.

The U.S. Geological Survey Colorado Water Science Center measures the normal flow in Boulder Creek is 100 to 300 cfs and today it is reached 4,500 cubic feet per second, the Denver Post reports.

Three deaths have been report and one has gone missing.

[Update] Additional images have been added.

Cross posted at Before It's News

CO Ousts Two Pro-Gun Control Democrats In Recall Elections (Video)

By Susan Duclos

Colorado state has ousted two pro-gun control Democrats, including the president of the state Senate. John Morse, in a historic recall election after the Democratically controlled Colorado Congress passed restrictive gun control laws.

The other Democrat, Angela Giron of Pueblo, was handily recalled by a 56 to 44 percent margin.

Both voted in favor of the gun control laws that residents were again and have suffered a defeat and lost of their Senate seats because of it.

Cross posted at Before It's News

Effort To Create New State Called ‘North Colorado’ Is Growing

By Susan Duclos

There has been talk from ten counties, including Weld and Morgan, of creating a 51st state called "North Colorado," and that effort continues to grow, with some people Lincoln and Cheyenne counties wanting to join.

The effort stems from residents believing they are not being represented by the state of Colorado nor the lawmakers elected to represent them.

According to a local affiliate in Denver, there was a meeting recently in the town of Akron located in Weld County to "begin mapping the boundaries for the new state they say will represent the interests of rural Colorado."

The secessionist movement is the result of a growing urban-rural divide, which was exacerbated after this year’s legislation session where lawmakers raised renewable energy standards for rural electric co-ops, floated bills increasing regulations on oil and gas, and passed sweeping gun control.

The creation of a new state comes with risks. A new state would have to draw up new water agreements which are critical to agriculture and uses 85 percent of Colorado’s water. Supporters say it also comes with new opportunities.

“I say 80 percent of the oil and gas revenue in the state of Colorado is coming out of northeastern Colorado – Weld, Yuma County, and some of other counties,” Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway said. “Seventy percent of the K-12 funding is coming off the state lands in Weld County alone. I’m telling you we are economic drivers.”

The growth of this effort now includes three other Colorado counties and two in Kansas that are talking about joining the movement.

In mid-June, U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican from Yuma stated "The people of rural Colorado are mad, and they have every right to be. The governor and his Democrat colleagues in the statehouse have assaulted our way of life, and I don't blame these people one bit for feeling attacked and unrepresented by the leaders of our state."

The anger fueling this effort comes from the recently passed draconian gun control laws the Democratically controlled state lawmakers passed.

Jeff G is part of the effort and states "we are willing to make our voices heard even while being labeled kooks and “fringe” elements — an attempt to tar pro-liberty, pro-business, pro-growth outlying parts of the state as simultaneously dangerous and worthy of blithe dismissal — precisely because the campaign to marginalize us is being carried out by all the right kinds of people, from poli sci professors to progressive activists who don’t seem to understand how economics works, or where local energy and produce comes from."

The video below explains how this movement started:

Colorado Gun Control Democrats Facing Recalls

By Susan Duclos

Colorado Democrats that voted to expand gun control are facing the ire of Colorado Second Amendment supporters, in what is described as the "first wave  of fallout over legislative votes to limit gun rights," according to an Associated Press article, via Yahoo News.

In Colorado, gun-rights activists wasted no time seeking recalls to oust state Senate President John Morse and three other Democratic lawmakers. The targeted lawmakers weren't necessarily the main advocates for ratcheting back gun rights, but all come from districts with enough Republicans to give opponents hope they can boot out the Democrats and replace them with lawmakers friendlier to guns. Colorado is the only state outside the East Coast to have adopted significant statewide gun controls this year.

"Colorado seems to be the testing ground for some of the gun measures, so this has national implications," said Victor Head, a plumber from Pueblo who is organizing a recall attempt against a Democratic senator.

 [...]

In an interview, Morse seemed resigned to facing a recall vote after signatures are verified. He believes national gun-rights supporters are using his district to make a national statement about the political peril officials face if they take on gun control.

"That's what's going on here. They want to take out the Senate president," Morse said.

The organizer of the Morse recall effort, Anthony Garcia, didn't disagree. Garcia doesn't live in Morse's district but in the northern Colorado town of Brighton. Garcia said Morse was targeted not just because of his votes for gun control but because he is a prominent Democrat from a competitive district.

"It's as much about saying Colorado is angry as it is about getting one guy out," Garcia said. "Legislators need to know when citizens are outraged that they can't ignore the people."

The actual numbers for the results of recalls, show why constituents are so willing to wage a recall campaign if they feel their state lawmakers are not representing them as they were elected to do. Joshua Spivak, who tracks recall elections nationwide at the Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform at Wagner College in New York provides those numbers.

• At least 169 officials at all levels of government faced recalls last year, up from 151 the year before.

•  In Colorado last year, seven recall efforts made it to ballots, all local races, Spivak said. Of those seven, two officials were ousted and two more resigned.

•  Nationwide, 108 recalled officials last year lost or left office after a recall. That makes the recall a powerful tool — and one likely to be used more often, Spivak said.

The recall effort underway is just one area that the Colorado gun grabbers are under attack, with over 50 Sheriffs suing the state of Colorado because of the recently passed gun control laws, saying they are "unenforceable and encourage disrespect for the law, which puts both law enforcement and the public in greater danger."

Colorado residents are also seeing  200 direct jobs, 400 supply-chain jobs and the $85 million  annually, move to another state as gun manufacturer Magpul, who has joined with the Sheriffs in their lawsuit, continued with their plans to relocate their business to a more gun friendly state because of the gun control laws passed by Colorado Democrats.

HiViz Shooting Systems, which makes sights, recoil pads and other accessories, has also decided to relocate out of Colorado, for the same reasons, taking their jobs and money out of the Colorado economy as well.


Full Wake up America coverage on the Second Amendment battle raging in Colorado can be found here.

Magpul Gun Manufacturer Joins 54 Colorado Sheriffs Suing State Over Gun Control Bills

By Susan Duclos

Gun manufacturer Magpul Industries, has joined with 54 Colorado sheriffs in a lawsuit filed against the state’s recently signed gun-control bills.

Win or lose, Magul is still continuing with their relocation out of the state, bringing their 200 direct jobs, 400 supply-chain jobs and the $85 million  annually, to another state's economy.

Via Washington Times:

“Just to clarify, we are still moving, regardless of the outcome of this legal action,” said a Friday post on the company’s Facebook page. “That train has left the station, and we are well into the selection and negotiation process as well as arranging many elements to be prepared to launch and already moving some production out of state.”

The lawsuit challenges two bills signed in March by Gov. John Hickenlooper: House Bill 1224, which restricts ammunition-magazine capacity to 15 rounds or fewer, and House Bill 1229, which requires background checks on all gun sales and transfers, including temporary transfers.

“This isn’t good public policy. These are really awful bills,” said Weld County Sheriff John Cooke at a Friday press conference. “They are unenforceable and encourage disrespect for the law, which puts both law enforcement and the public in greater danger.”

The Democratic state legislature approved the bills, along with a third bill requiring gun owners to pay for their own background checks, with no Republican votes. Democratic state Sen. Mary Hodge issued a statement Friday accusing the sheriffs of “playing politics.”

“We can’t just sit by and do nothing while first-graders and moviegoers are being mowed down in one fell swoop with weapons equipped with large-capacity magazines,” said Ms. Hodge. “It’s time to stop playing politics and start protecting Coloradans from massacres and unnecessary gun violence.”

Mr. Cooke denied the charge. “We’re not the ones playing politics with this,” said Cooke. “We believe the [legislators] are the ones playing politics. We’re standing up for our constituents and the Constitution,” he said.

It is noteworthy that Colorado politicians accuse law enforcement of "playing politics", when the politicians are the ones ignoring the experts, being the law enforcement officials, that maintain the law, deal with the criminals and would know more about what would and would not work in reducing violence.

The politicians are pushing an ideological anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment, gun control agenda while the sheriffs are standing up for their constituents and committed to upholding their oath of office to defend the Constitution.

Politicians play politics, law enforcement are the ones that risk their lives every single day to keep their residents safe.

Statement From Gun Manufacturer, PTR Industries: Leaving Connecticut Citing New Gun Laws

By Susan Duclos

Recently two companies, Magpul, which manufactures guns and HiViz Shooting Systems, which makes sights, recoil pads and other accessories, announced they were leaving the state of Colorado. Both citing the passage of new gun control laws. Both taking jobs, revenue and money out of the Colorado economy and bringing them to a state without restrictive gun control laws.

States like Wyoming are opening their arms and inviting these companies to move to a more gun friendly state.  "Move to the Cowboy State," says Wyoming lawmakers.

Another gun manufacturer is now following their example, this one in Connecticut, and is citing the same reasons. PTR Industries announces, via their Facebook page as well as the PTR Industries website, that they will be "actively considering offers from states that are friendly to the industry."

"The rights of the citizens of CT have been trampled upon. The safety of its children is at best questionably improved from the day of the tragedy that triggered the events that lead us here," said officials at PTR Industries in a statement on their website. "Finally, due to an improperly drafted bill, manufacturing of modern sporting rifles in the state of CT has been effectively outlawed. With a heavy heart but a clear mind, we have been forced to decide that our business can no longer survive in Connecticut - the former Constitution state." 

PTR Industries owner Josh Fiorini also states he wants to move out before the new law goes into place Jan. 1.

More:

A majority of the company’s employees, “which includes ALL of our management personnel, engineering staff and skilled gunsmiths,” has agreed to move, the statement said, even though the location has not been determined.

PTR said its employees had “a heavy heart but a clear mind” in reaching the decision — and the company is now inviting other manufacturers and suppliers to join it in departing Connecticut. It’s unclear how many people at different supplier companies work on PTR rifles, but all of the components are made in Connecticut, said John McNamara, the PTR vice president of sales.

Other companies are already talking about potential moves out of Connecticut as well:

Under the Connecticut law, firms are allowed to make and ship firearms that are banned for retail sale here. Still, manufacturers including Stag Arms in New Britain, with 200 employees, and magazine-maker Ammunition Storage Components, with 100 people in New Britain, say they may be forced to leave by customers in other states who refuse to buy from companies that remain here.

Both Colorado and Connecticut are facing budget shortfalls already, so driving businesses and their money, as well as employees,  out of the state, is guaranteed to make matters worse.
 
Full statement from PTR Industries below:

April 9, 2013
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A STATEMENT CONCERNING MANUFACTURING ENCOURAGEMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND PROTECTION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
-
This past week an historic and highly controversial bill was passed by the State of Connecticut which will have far reaching consequences to the state, its citizens, and businesses. The bill we refer to is Bill No. 1160, AN ACT CONCERNING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHILDRENS SAFETY. This bill purports to reduce gun violence by banning hardware responsible for less than 3% of homicides in 2011 ; and claims to increase children’s safety by restricting the ability of those most responsible for it – their parents – to defend them.
-
As a firearms manufacturing firm, our industrial roots reach deep in the State of CT. Along with other companies in the trade, we were deeply apprehensive at the hurried process to develop new gun laws and fearful that it would generate unintended consequences for our industry. On Thursday April 4th 2013, upon reading the full text of Bill 1160, our worst fears were confirmed. What emerged was a bill fraught with ambiguous definitions, insufficient considerations for the trade, conflicting mandates, and disastrous consequences for the fundamental rights of the people of CT.
-
The magnitude of the constitutional and economic importance of this bill is such that the disregard for public input (in the final version), and the haphazard production of the legislation should be insulting to any citizen or business in CT. It should be a shock to us all that such landmark legislation could be written in one week, and seen by no one (including the rank-and-file legislators) prior to its emergency certification. Having been present in the deliberations in both legislative chambers, it was clear that a majority of our legislators had not even read the bill – and those that had read it had only a cursory understanding.
-
The process with which this legislation proceeded, along with the language that resulted gives us no confidence that this will be the last violation of our rights in our beloved home state, and we only hope that this does not set a precedent at a national level.
-
The rights of the citizens of CT have been trampled upon. The safety of its children is at best questionably improved from the day of the tragedy that triggered the events that lead us here. Finally, due to an improperly drafted bill, manufacturing of modern sporting rifles in the State of CT has been effectively outlawed. With a heavy heart but a clear mind, we have been forced to decide that our business can no longer survive in Connecticut – the former Constitution state.
-
Furthermore, we feel that our industry as a whole will continue to be threatened so long as it remains in a state where its elected leaders have no regard for the rights of those who produce and manufacture its wealth. We are making a call to all involved in our industry to leave this state, close your doors and show our politicians the true consequences of their hasty and uninformed actions. We encourage those in our industry to abandon this state as its leaders have abandoned the proud heritage that forged our freedom.
-
Although PTR has not decided upon a specific relocation site at this time, over the coming weeks the company will be actively considering offers from states that are friendly to the industry. We hope to have a site identified within the next six weeks, and hope to have our move completed by the end of this year. We plan to keep our business partners informed on the status of our move throughout this process in order to affect a smooth transition.
-
We have extended the invitation to join us in the move to all of our employees, as well as all of our vendors. We are pleased to say that we currently have commitments to move from a majority of our employees, which includes ALL of our management personnel, engineering staff and skilled gunsmiths.
-
It is our hope and sincere belief that this move will represent a step forward for the company; and that by bringing our expertise and core personnel to combine with the business friendly policies, and a motivated local labor force from a state that respects industry and the second amendment that we can expand our operations and not only maintain – but increase the quality and reputation of our products.
-
Please direct any questions or inquiries to John McNamara, Vice President of Sales, at john@ptr91.com or at our main phone number.
__________________________________________________-
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

Doctor Warned Police Holmes Was Homicidal 'Danger To The Public' A Month Before He Killed 12

By Susan Duclos

As Second Amendment supporters often argue to gun control proponents, it is not a gun that kills, it is the person who has their finger on the trigger and that mental health issues need to be addressed far more than creating more gun laws against mentally sound law abiding gun owners.

Nothing hammers that point home better than the reports that James Holmes' psychiatrist, Dr. Lynne Fenton, warned police that Holmes had homicidal thoughts and was a public danger, according to records unsealed Thursday. This warning came a month before Holmes walked into an Aurora, Colorado movie theater and opened fire, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others.

USA Today:

A University of Colorado psychiatrist told campus police a month before the Aurora movie theater attack that James Holmes had homicidal thoughts and was a public danger, according to records unsealed Thursday.

Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist at the Denver campus, told police that Holmes had also "threatened and harassed her via email/text messages" in June 2012. He is standing trial for the July 20 shooting rampage that killed 12 and injured 70 during a midnight premiere of the latest Batman movie.

Campus police would not comment, and a university spokeswoman did not immediately respond, the Associated Press said.

Soon after the shooting, university police said they had not had any contact with Holmes, a graduate student doing neuroscience research. But a search warrant affidavit released Thursday revealed that an officer had told investigators that Fenton had contacted her to report "his danger to the public due to homicidal statements he had made."

 9News provides the links to the unsealed arrest affidavits and records warrants:


Below are all the documents released April 4, 2012:
Search Warrant 1690 North Paris Street #10
Search Warrant 1690 Paris Street #5
Search Warrant 1945 North Wheeling Street Bldg T36
Search Warrant 2000 Hyundai Tiburon 2 door
Search Warrant Apple iPhone 858-449-7348
Search Warrant Black NZXT eCyberpower Tower
Search Warrant Cellco Partnership dba Verizon 858-449-7348
Search Warrant Federal Express Corp
Search Warrant FedEx Ground Package System
Search Warrant Google Inc classic.jimbo@gmail.com
Search Warrant Google Inc dsherlockb@gmail.com
Search Warrant Microsoft Corp dsherlockb@hotmail.com
Warrantless Arrest Affidavit
Holmes is facing 166 charges ranging from murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. The prosecution is pushing for the death penalty.

 Those claiming to want to lessen violence this kind, need to focus on better communication between authorities, why the campus police did not communicate with the Colorado police, and start working on ways to take those expressing homicidal thoughts determined to making them an extreme danger to the public, off the streets.

CO Ammunition Capacity Ban Sponsor Diana DeGette Thinks Ammunition Magazines Cannot Be Reloaded

By Susan Duclos

Colorado Representative Diana DeGette, gun control bill sponsor, of a ban on high capacity ammunition magazines/clips, is the perfect example of why lawmakers that know nothing about weapons, guns in particular and how ammunition magazines function, should not be attempting to write laws about them.

The video below shows Ms. DeGette saying "I will tell you these are ammunition, they’re bullets, so the people who have those know they’re going to shoot them, so if you ban them in the future, the number of these high capacity magazines is going to decrease dramatically over time because the bullets will have been shot and there won’t be any more available."

Anyone with an actual clue, understands that magazines can be reloaded.

[WATCH]


Denver Post reports that after her "pretty stupid" assertion, her office in an attempt to mitigate the damage, offered up another "erroneous statement."

DeGette spokeswoman Juliet Johnson on Wednesday said the senior congresswoman from Denver "misspoke" and then issued another erroneous statement about guns.

"The congresswoman has been working on a high-capacity assault magazine ban for years and has been deeply involved in the issue; she simply misspoke in referring to 'magazines' when she should have referred to 'clips,' which cannot be reused because they don't have a feeding mechanism," Johnson said.

Actually, clips in most guns can be reused as well.

DeGette is receiving some deservedly harsh criticisms for her comments:

Immediately after DeGette's Tuesday remark, the audience in The Post building chuckled and Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, who was also on the panel, urged people who have not shot a gun to "get to the facts. ... Let's be educated as we make this decision."

The story went viral Wednesday.

The National Rifle Association issued a simple statement: "Two words: Pretty stupid."

The Colorado GOP called DeGette's statements "extremely alarming" because, the group said, she is running a piece of federal legislation that she apparently doesn't know anything about.

"Rep. DeGette's comments show that Democrats are more concerned with appeasing their radical base than standing up for responsible, law-abiding citizens," spokesman Owen Loftus said.

Colorado residents must be so happy they voted in politicians like DeGette to violate their Second Amendment rights.

[Update] Following DeGette's show of ignorance, Barack Obama shows he doesn't know the difference between a fully-automatic weapon and a semi-automatic weapon.... or he does and he just lied.

(Headline and post changed to reflect the exact nature of the bill DeGette sponsored)

CO Governor Signs Gun Control Bill: Magpul, Announces Relocation Plans

By Susan Duclos

On March 9, 2013, Magpul, the largest manufacturer of ammunition magazines in Colorado, announced plans to relocate if the Governor of Colorado signed the restrictive gun control bills, including the one limiting ammunition magazines to 15 rounds or less.

As we have previously stated, HB 1224, if signed into law will require us to move operations out of Colorado. This is a process that will take some organization/negotiation with potential new location(s).

Work on relocation of production assets has already started and as we move through various scenarios, we will be unable to comment on possible new locations or details of the move until decisions have been finalized.

On Monday, after Colorado Governor Hickenlooperannounced he would sign the bill, Magpul announced, via their Facebook page, the plan to move operations out of Colorado would begin "almost immediately."

Apparently Gov Hickenlooper has announced that he will sign HB 1224 on Wednesday. We were asked for our reaction, and here is what we said:

We have said all along that based on the legal problems and uncertainties in the bill, as well as general principle, we will have no choice but to leave if the Governor signs this into law. We will start our transition out of the state almost immediately, and we will prioritize moving magazine manufacturing operations first. We expect the first PMAGs to be made outside CO within 30 days of the signing, with the rest to follow in phases. We will likely become a multi-state operation as a result of this move, and not all locations have been selected. We have made some initial contacts and evaluated a list of new potential locations for additional manufacturing and the new company headquarters, and we will begin talks with various state representatives in earnest if the Governor indeed signs this legislation. Although we are agile for a company of our size, it is still a significant footprint, and we will perform this move in a manner that is best for the company and our employees.

It is disappointing to us that money and a social agenda from outside the state have apparently penetrated the American West to control our legislature and Governor, but we feel confident that Colorado residents can still take the state back through recalls, ballot initiatives, and the 2014 election to undo these wrongs against responsible Citizens.

The gun control measures were signed by Hickenlooper and Magpul has reconfirmed plans to relocate their operations:

With the signing of the HB 1224, we want to reassure Colorado residents, now officially in occupied territory, that the "Boulder Airlift" will continue until we can no longer legally ship to CO residents at the approach of the July 1 deadline, so long as demand continues.

We are looking at additional ways to give Coloradans the opportunity to buy the magazines they need prior to the enactment date, as although we've been swamped with tens of thousands of orders, our shipping department limitations have only allowed us to get a few hundred thousand magazines out to CO residents...a small portion of our monthly production. We'll continue to support the Airlift as long as demand exists, and up to the active date of the legislation, and we've allocated a little over a million magazines for the effort up to that point, give or take.

Customers in the rest of the country should rest assured that the airlift only takes a small portion of our production, and magazines and other products are continuing to ship to the rest of the nation. Our transition to a new home will occur in a phased and orderly a manner to allow us to continue to serve our customers during the move, as well as to allow an orderly transition for affected employees. We are actively working on those plans.

Magpul has more on the “Boulder Airlift” program on its website.


More from Colorado Hometown Weekly:

"We expect the first PMAGs to be made outside (Colorado) within 30 days of the signing, with the rest to follow in phases," the statement reads. "We will likely become a mult-istate operation as a result of this move, and not all locations have been selected."

Visitors to the company's Facebook page have left messages urging Magpul to locate in their states.
"Come to Little Rock, AR. Super gun friendly here. We would love the industry and are a right to work state!" wrote one visitor.

A Magpul enthusiast from a neighboring state kept the plea simple and straightforward.
"Utah wants you," she wrote.

The company blamed a "social agenda from outside the state" for the gun control bill's passage, but said Colorado residents can fight back against the legislation "through recalls, ballot initiatives and the 2014 election."

Magpul employs just over 200 people.

According to a prior statement from Magpul, this move will affect 200 direct jobs, 400 supply-chain jobs and the $85 million  annually to the Colorado economy.

Magpul Industries directly employs 200 people, supports another 400 supply-chain jobs, and contributes over $85 million annually to Colorado’s economy. Doug Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Magpul, says that it is a difficult position to be in. "We could choose to stay in a state that wants our jobs and revenue, but not our products, and lose half the jobs we are fighting to save, or potentially the entire business, when our customers stop buying. Or, we can take the company and those 600 jobs out of Colorado to continue our growth and the growth of American manufacturing in a state that shares our values. This is not really a choice. It's an unfortunate and inevitable result of the actions of the Legislature if this bill passes."

Magpul was started over a decade ago by Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. Marine. It has become one of Colorado’s fastest growing businesses, successfully marketing its products to American and allied military forces, police departments, sporting goods stores, and thousands of responsible private citizens. Fitzpatrick says that the rich western culture and strong values of individual freedom and responsibility, traditionally found in Colorado, were one of the reasons the company chose to remain in the state.

At least the citizens of Colorado will know exactly who to blame for the loss of 600 jobs and the loss of $85 million annually to their economy.

CO Sheriff Will 'Destroy" Database And 'Intervene' If Feds Try To Enforce New Guns Laws

By Susan Duclos

Colorado Sheriffs are pushing back against Colorado's two aggressive gun control laws, passed by Democrats and awaiting the signature of the Democratic Governor. One says he won't enforce the laws in his country and another says he would go as far as to destroy his database of concealed carry permit owners and intervene if federal agents attempt to enforce the laws in his county.

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke:

The sheriff told the news outlet that he and other county sheriffs "won’t bother enforcing" the laws because it won't be possible to keep track of how gun owners are complying with the new requirements.

El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa:

"I can’t tell you when those were sold, bought and purchased. As far as I’m concerned, they were all pre-July 1 if the governor does sign this bill," he said.

Maketa said the proposed laws were hastily crafted and at least one would be unenforceable. A number of Colorado sheriffs are concerned the laws could lead to registration of gun owners, he said.

Maketa said his office keeps records of every concealed carry permit holder in the county as required by law, but he would never share it.

He said he would destroy the database if anyone tried to get their hands on it and would intervene if government agents started arresting county residents for exercising their constitutional rights.

Both sheriffs are elected officials, not appointed. Meaning they are elected by their county citizens to protect them and their constitutional rights.

Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey, Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario and Montrose County Sheriff Rick Dunlap, also have said they will not enforce any federal laws which violate the constitutional right to bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

(Links and names of 347 Sheriffs and 14 Sheriff's associations,  across the country, saying no unconstitutional guns laws can be found here.)

Gun grabbing and gun control Democrats are about to get more than they expected by way of resistance. Not just from the citizens of their states but from the sheriff's s elected to defend those citizens as well as abide by his oath of office to "support the Constitution of the United States."

El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa issued the following statement:

Most citizens throughout El Paso County are well aware of my second amendment stance. I have recently received several emails asking my position on this subject as well as my position on gun control and weapons bans. In response, I felt obligated to take a few minutes and reaffirm my position on firearms ownership and offer a few of my concerns with the wrongful approach I see championed and pushed upon us by elected leaders at the State and Federal level. First and foremost, I absolutely believe in our Second Amendment rights. I stand firmly against, any effort that infringes on the rights of law abiding citizens to own and posses firearms of their choice. Furthermore, I will actively oppose any effort that infringes upon your second amendment rights.

Like every elected official in the state, I took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Colorado. This means all rights. Prior to being elected as Sheriff, I took the same oath as a Deputy Sheriff and prior to my law enforcement career, I was a firearms enthusiast and sportsman. I am among the millions of Americans who chooses to exercise their right to bear arms and I avoid judgment of those who choose not to. Today and everyday into the future, I will continue to not only exercise this right but ensure that our law abiding citizens' right to bear arms is protected. I personally believe this right among others is non-negotiable. Some have suggested this is a political issue or a right and left issue. I strongly oppose that suggestion. This is a constitutional rights issue and we should all stand by this document which is the foundation of this nation.

It is very disturbing to witness so many that have taken the same oath I have, to now flip flop and use tragedies such as the Sandy Hook school shooting to further their personal agenda and very flawed thought process. Bans such as those that have been discussed and proposed in this state and other states will not make our schools any safer. Emotionally labeling "scary looking" weapons as assault weapons and banning them will not make our schools and communities any safer. Sadly enough, those who propose these restrictions never would or could guarantee that by imposing such restrictions will ensure the safety of our communities. It does however, target law abiding citizens and chips away at our constitutional rights. The flawed thinking that the criminal or an individual intending harm will obey these laws is unrealistic and statistics have proven this year after year. The notion that restricting ammunition or requiring any form of registration is factually illogical and emotionally driven to achieve one agenda and that agenda is control. This is precisely why our forefathers had elected to give every law abiding citizen these absolute rights and why they restricted the power and authority of the government.

We as a civilized society should focus our collective efforts on the real factors contributing to the violence against children. The silent issue that society and our elected delegation refuse to address at the national and local level is how mental illness is affecting our society and the lack of resources available to address these illnesses. We should be sharing information concerning those diagnosed individuals who demonstrate violent or homicidal ideations. We should insure our mental health systems are available to all those afflicted with disorders or illnesses.

We also need to be focusing on our children and the influences they are exposed to and who and what is shaping their conceptual and analytical skills. They should be exposed to positive role models that increase their respect and appreciation for human life. They should not be consumed with influences or activities that devalue a human life. A seven or eight year old child should never be consumed with graphic and destructive video games that measure the player's success by how many people or things they can kill. This is an element that did not exist 30 years ago. Thirty years ago children played outside in the fresh air; today they sit with a remote, a mouse or toggle in their hand. They have become desensitized from constant stimulus and don't comprehend the value of human life or the finality of the loss of it.

Instead of the Federal Government, mainly Congress, continuing to engage in activities of which they have no authority and erodes our constitutional rights, we should focus on criminals and those who are most likely to commit acts of violence and not target the law abiding patriots of our nation.

- Sheriff Terry Maketa

Colorado Gun Bills, Five Advanced in Senate, Two Killed

By Susan Duclos

A quick scorecard on the controversial gun bills being proposed and advanced in the state's Senate, provided by Denver Post:

Senate Bill 197 - Domestic Violence: Advances in Senate
Senate Bill 195 - Online Training: Advances in Senate
House Bill 1229 - Universal Background Checks: Advances in Senate
House Bill 1228 - Background Checks fees: Advances in Senate
House Bill 1224 - Limits on Magazine Size: Advances in Senate
Senate Bill 196 - Liability for Assault-style Weapons: Senate leader kills his own bill
House Bill 1226 - Ban of Concealed Carry Permits College Campuses: Killed by sponsor

The ban on concealed carry on college campuses became highlighted early on when Colorado Democrat Representative Joe Salazar, argued against college women's' Second Amendment constitutional right to bear arms in order to protect themselves from rape, with the following statement:

“It’s why we have call boxes, it’s why we have safe zones, it’s why we have the whistles. Because you just don’t know who you’re gonna be shooting at. And you don’t know if you feel like you’re gonna be raped, or if you feel like someone’s been following you around or if you feel like you’re in trouble when you may actually not be, that you pop out that gun and you pop … pop around at somebody.”

He later apologized  for causing offense after a public outcry emerged from his statements.

(Video at RedState and the WuA piece on that is here)

Then rape survivors came forward bravely telling their stories and more recently, one faced off with Colorado Senator Evie Hudak going after rape survivor Amanda Collins during a legislative hearing concerning Colorado's proposed ban on concealed firearms on college campuses, telling Ms. Collins that "statistics are not on your side," after Collins explained her ordeal and stated that had she had her gun she could have protected herself.

Collin's responded by telling Hudak "Respectfully Senator, you weren't there."

(Video of that exchange and a subsequent interview with Collins can be found here)

Another rape survivor, Kimberly Weeks, wrote an op-ed, published at Revealing Politics, describing her harrowing ordeal of being awoken by a rapist and raped for hours in her own residence,  and now feels she is being re-victimized by the very lawmakers attempting take away her and others' right to defend themselves.

.......earlier this week I sat directly in front of the Colorado Senate Committee telling them and a gallery of strangers, as well as media, the story of my vicious rape.

I plead with them not to strip me of my rights to carry the weapon I am licensed to carry on my college campus. The three Democratic Senators chose to ignore my plea. The very people that treated me like a priority when they needed my vote, voted against me when I needed theirs.

I ask – no, I beg – each Colorado Senator to stop ignoring the voices of citizens like me. Don’t re-victimize me with your legislation.

Please, Colorado, don’t disarm me with your vote.

While Colorado Democrats, who control the state's Senate and House, as well as having a Democratic Governor, are stripping Colorado citizens of their Second Amendment rights as aggressively as possible, having the ban on concealed carry on campuses pulled for lack of support, is a big win for college women's' right to defend themselves against brutal sexual assault on campus.

Quick facs, via the national statistics of sexual violence on college campuses.

• One in 4 college-aged women report experiences that meet the legal definitions of rape or attempted rape.

• One in 5 college women are raped during their college years.

• 81% of women who were stalked by a current or former partner were also physically assaulted by that same partner (US Department of Justice, 1998)

• One in 12 college men admitted to committing acts that met the legal definition of rape.

• More than one in 5 men report "becoming so sexually aroused that they could not stop themselves from having sex," even though the woman did not consent.

• 35% of men report some likelihood that they would rape if they could be assured they wouldn't be caught or punished.

• Nearly 60% of rapes occur in the survivor's residence hall

Chart, via Students for Concealed Carry. (Click chart to enlarge to full)

Video- Rape Survivor To Democratic Senator Evie Hudak ' You Weren't There'

By Susan Duclos

Two videos below.

The first video is of  Colorado Democratic state Sen. Evie Hudak going after rape survivor Amanda Collins during a legislative hearing concerning Colorado's proposed ban on concealed firearms on college campuses, telling Ms. Collins that "statistics are not on your side," after Collins explained her ordeal and stated that had she had her gun she could have protected herself.

Collin's responded by telling Hudak "Respectfully Senator, you weren't there."

Ms. Collins makes the most relevant point against gun grabbing liberals that can be made when she asks "How does rendering me defenseless protect you against a violent crime?"

[WATCH]



The second video is Collins being interviewed about her testimony.

[WATH]

Chart- Sex Crime Rates Plummeted At Colorado State University When Concealed Carry Became Legal

By Susan Duclos

Last week the Democratically controlled House passed four gun control laws, one of which, Colorado House Bill 13-1226 , would strip the right's of  law-abiding college students from carrying a weapon on campus.

The House discussion on the subject became controversial when Democrat Representative Joe Salazar that call boxes, safe zones, and whistles were enough defense for a woman if she thought she was going to be raped. Despite the fact that according to  the national statistics of sexual violence on college campuses, 40 percent of of sexual offenses against women were outside their residence where there is already call boxes and safe zones.

Below are a few of those key statistics from a  previous WuA piece discussing Mr. Salazar's idiotic statement which he later apologized for.

• One in 4 college-aged women report experiences that meet the legal definitions of rape or attempted rape.

• One in 5 college women are raped during their college years.

• 81% of women who were stalked by a current or former partner were also physically assaulted by that same partner (US Department of Justice, 1998)

• One in 12 college men admitted to committing acts that met the legal definition of rape.

• More than one in 5 men report "becoming so sexually aroused that they could not stop themselves from having sex," even though the woman did not consent.

• 35% of men report some likelihood that they would rape if they could be assured they wouldn't be caught or punished.

• Nearly 60% of rapes occur in the survivor's residence hall

Students for Concealed Carry is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization composed of more than 43,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Students for Concealed Carry Chart for sexual offense history at Colorado State University: (Via Twitter)

RT to show the #COleg and @housesalazar what happened to sex offenses at CSU when concealed carry became legal: twitter.com/ConcealedCampu…
— ConcealedCampus (@ConcealedCampus) February 19, 2013

By passing these laws, the CO Democrat gun grabbers are putting their political ideology against guns, above the safety of the students that attend their colleges, as the chart very clearly shows how sexual crimes plummeted after law abiding college students were given the ability to defend themselves.

...For the past decade, concealed carry has been legal on Colorado college campuses and the nightmare scenarios presented by those seeking to disarm students have yet to materialize.

In fact, crime rates at Colorado State University—one of the schools that did not pass campus regulations banning concealed carry—plummeted after the 2003 law was passed. In 2009, when school administrators threatened students’ right to self defense, CSU’s student government voted by an overwhelming 7:1 margin to keep concealed carry on campus.

In 2012, Students for Concealed Carry won a landmark victory before the Colorado Supreme Court overturning illegal campus gun bans that left students defenseless. Now we need your help to stop misguided legislators from rolling back progress and endangering Colorado students.

Students for Concealed Carry has set up links for concerned Colorado citizens to contact Colorado legislators.

H/T Doug Ross

CO Liberal: College Women Do Not Need Gun Protection From Rape, There Are 'Safe Zones And Whistles'

By Susan Duclos

Leave it to Dana Loesch over at RedState to point out the stupidity of  Colorado Democrat Representative Joe Salazar's argument to strip college women of their Second Amendment constitutional right to bear arms in order to protect themselves from rape. (Video over at RedState)

“It’s why we have call boxes, it’s why we have safe zones, it’s why we have the whistles. Because you just don’t know who you’re gonna be shooting at. And you don’t know if you feel like you’re gonna be raped, or if you feel like someone’s been following you around or if you feel like you’re in trouble when you may actually not be, that you pop out that gun and you pop … pop around at somebody.”

First and foremost, once coming of age to legally own a gun, it is a right, a constitutional right, that shall not be infringed, to bear arms and have the ability to defend.

Secondly, one has to wonder how many cases Mr.  Salazar has heard of where a college female has "popped" someone following them, or stalking them or mistakenly thought they were going to be raped.

Then he should compare those numbers to the ones over at the link Ms. Loesch so helpfully provided which shows the national statistics of sexual violence on college campuses.

Key stats from the link above:

• One in 4 college-aged women report experiences that meet the legal definitions of rape or attempted rape.

• One in 5 college women are raped during their college years.

• 81% of women who were stalked by a current or former partner were also physically assaulted by that same partner (US Department of Justice, 1998)

• One in 12 college men admitted to committing acts that met the legal definition of rape.

• More than one in 5 men report "becoming so sexually aroused that they could not stop themselves from having sex," even though the woman did not consent.

• 35% of men report some likelihood that they would rape if they could be assured they wouldn't be caught or punished.

• Nearly 60% of rapes occur in the survivor's residence hall

Did Mr. Salazar's "safe zones" and "whistles" protect those women?

Salazar has since apologized for offending anyone, but see, his political ideology is that guns will not make women any safer and women should not be allowed their constitutional right to bear arms if they are in college.

The Colorado House, controlled by Democrats, just passed four gun bills, one of which was to "Ban concealed weapons on college campuses." These bills will now go before the Democratically controlled Senate and then to the Democratic Governor of Colorado.

Here is another statistic from the link above:

Nearly 60 percent of rapes occur in the survivor's residence hall, meaning 40 percent of rapes are not in the female college student's residence and Mr. Salazar's "safe zones" and 'whistles" didn't do a damn thing to stop them.

Once passed, Colorado Democrats will have effectively told women they have no right to adequately defend themselves from being raped while attending college.

And they say Republicans are waging a war on women?

An open letter sent to Obama from MO Sheriff Charles Heiss About 2nd Amendment Rights

By Susan Duclos

[Update] Utah Sheriffs' Association sent a letter to Obama also. (Link to letter and text here)

We can now add two Missouri Sheriffs to the list of those speaking out against any new gun laws that would violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

An open letter sent to Obama from MO Sheriff Charles, posted to the Johnson County MO Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

January 16, 2013

The Honorable Barak Obama
President United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

My name is Charles M. Heiss and I am the Sheriff of Johnson County, Missouri. I have held this office since January 1, 1997. I am writing to you to express my concern with the tone of your administration with respect to the Second Amendment Rights of American citizens. It appears to me and many Americans that there is a genuine desire on the part of your administration to restrict the Second Amendment rights of law abiding American citizens in the interest of curbing gun violence in our nation.

Throughout our nations history the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights has served as the very foundation of our free society. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution has long guaranteed our citizens the right to keep and bear arms and is central to our ability to live in a free society. Any attempt to restrict these Second Amendment rights through executive order is unconstitutional and tantamount to an all out assault on the United States Constitution. Just as the Fourth Amendment to the constitution guarantees our citizens the right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizure, the Second Amendment guarantees each of us the right to keep and bear arms to protect ourselves from anyone who would seek to cause us harm. This includes the federal Government.

World history has shown us that when a society does not possess the ability to defend itself it becomes ripe for victimization by criminals, and ripe for government oppression. One need not look too far in today’s world to see glaring examples of defenseless people being brutalized by rogue regimes and dictators. Syria, North Korea, and Mali are just a few examples of this type of oppression. Mexico is a stark reminder of a society overrun with criminal element in the form of Drug Cartels.

As the duly elected Sheriff of Johnson County, Missouri, it is my sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitutions of the United States of America, and the State of Missouri against all enemies both foreign and domestic. This means I not only have the duty to protect my constituents from incidents of crime, but I also have a duty and responsibility to protect and preserve the individual rights and liberties afforded and guaranteed to every citizen by our constitutions. This, Mr. President is a duty I fully understand, appreciate, and will carry out with great vigor and conviction. I will most certainly urge my fellow Sheriffs in the State of Missouri and across this great nation to rise to the defense and aid of all Americans should the federal government attempt to enact any legislation, or executive order that impedes, erodes, or otherwise diminishes their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. I will use all means legal to meet this solemn and sacred responsibility.

Respectfully,
Charles M. Heiss
Sheriff Johnson County, Missouri.

This position is also the one of Steve Cox, the Livingston County sheriff.

According to KCTV 5 News, Kansas City, these two Sheriffs are asking that other Sheriffs in Missouri and across the country  "to rise to the defense and aid of all Americans should the federal government attempt to enact any legislation, or executive order that impedes, erodes, or otherwise diminishes their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. I will use all means legal to meet this solemn and sacred responsibility."

Sheriffs in Kentucky, Oregon , Colorado and Alabama have already issued their own letters or spoken out publicly saying they would not enforce or allow and new gun regulations to be enforced in their counties.

Multiple states are also introducing legislation that will make it illegal for any new gun laws to be enforced in their state and threatening arrest, jail and fines for anyone attempting to enforce any new gun laws Congress passes or Obama issues by decree executive order.


 

And Another Sheriff Comes Out to Publicly Oppose Any New Gun Legislation!

By Susan Duclos

A Kentucky Sheriff, two Oregon Sheriffs, a Colorado Sheriff and now news of an Alabama Sheriff, all publicly stating that they will not enforce any new gun regulations that violate the Second Amendment rights of their citizens and will not permit any entity to come into their town to enforce them either.

Sheriff Hughes of Houston County, AL announced the following on Facebook.

"As Sheriff of Houston county it is my job to protect the constitutional rights of our citizens. The second amendment is a right, not a privilege and shall not be infringed upon. As long as I am Sheriff of Houston County, I will not allow anyone to seize any firearms from law abiding citizens within this county."

Sheriff Andy R. Hughes January 17, 2013

Multiple states are also introducing legislation that will make it illegal for any new gun laws to be enforced in their state and threatening arrest, jail and fines for anyone attempting to enforce any new gun laws Congress passes or Obama issues by decree executive order.

H/t on Alabama Sheriff's comments goes to Guns Save Lives

Pot Legalized In Colorado And Washington

By Susan Duclos

Stoners, prepare yourselves to invade either Washington or Colorado, where measures allowing adults to use marijuana for any purpose have been approved by voters.

In Massachusetts, voters also approved an initiative allowing people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, NBC News projected. In Arkansas, a similar initiative failed, according to NBC News projections.

In all, voters in six states were being asked to decide on a wide array of laws around legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes.

In three of those states – Colorado, Oregon and Washington – voters were deciding whether to allow people over 21 to use marijuana for any purpose. In Oregon, NBC News projected that the initiative to legalize marijuana had failed.

In Montana, NBC News projected that voters had approved a plan to to revamp an existing medicinal marijuana law to make it more restrictive.

State laws will have to come to terms with federal laws, but it shouldn't be long before the Democrats in government starts thinking of all the tax potential involved. Never met a tax they didn't like, so it shouldn't be long before proposals are made to decriminalize pot on the federal level.

Romney/Ryan Campaign and 100 Surrogates To Take Final Sweep Through Battleground States

By Susan Duclos

Starting Friday the Romney/Ryan campaign along with 100 surrogates will be sweeping through 11 battleground states, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin, making their final pitch and closing arguments of why the American Electorate should vote for Mitt Romney for President of the United States of America in 2012.

Via CNN:

 The tour starts off with a rally in West Chester, Ohio, the hometown of House Speaker John Boehner. Aside from Boehner, featured guests that day include former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

[...]

A campaign source confirmed that Romney will be at the Verizon Center in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday night, and Kid Rock will perform, as well.

On Wednesday, Romney and Ryan resume the campaign trail after canceling some events due to conditions related to Superstorm Sandy. Romney will travel to Florida for three campaign events, where he'll appear with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Senate candidate Connie Mack. Ryan, meanwhile, will make stops in Wisconsin.

It is the final stretch....... It's Time To Vote.