Colorado Gov. Signs ‘Red Flag’ Law: Everytown Gloats, Sheriff Vows Non-Compliance

2nd Amendment – R2KBA Authors Jordan Michaels This Week
Colorado Gov. Signs 'Red Flag' Law: Everytown Gloats, Sheriff Vows Non-Compliance

Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, praised Colorado’s new law. (Photo: MDA)

Colorado’s governor signed the state’s new “red flag” law last week, and anti-gun activists couldn’t be happier.

Democrats’ victory in the state senate in November gave anti-gunners total control of Colorado’s government, and they wasted no time pushing Extreme Risk Protection Order (aka, “red flag”) legislation. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed the legislation last week, though some local law enforcement officers have vowed to not enforce it.

“Today’s signing was a long time coming,” said Karin Asensio, a leader with the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Coloradoans are all too familiar with the devastation of gun violence, from shootings that make national headlines to the overwhelming number that never do.”

The anti-gun lobby’s national leadership chimed in as well.

“This victory is the direct result of Coloradans standing up for our safety and showing that together, we are stronger than the gun lobby’s scare tactics,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the nation’s leading crusader against bolt-action rimfire rifles. “Moms Demand Action volunteers helped flip the Colorado senate to be a gun-sense majority in November, and they turned out to make sure lawmakers did the right thing and voted for this common-sense proposal that protects our families. We know these laws are effective in keeping guns out of the hands of people in crisis, which is why they’re gaining traction across the U.S.”

Some Coloradans are fighting back, including Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek, who said in an interview on Fox & Friends that he will refuse to enforce Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

“I just became very, very concerned because of the whole way they went about it. It was supposed to be for mental health. It was supposed to be for taking care of people … and at least in my opinion, they went about the process totally backwards,” Van Beek said.

“They went after the people’s rights. They went after [it] in a manner that I didn’t think gave them due process because they said, ‘well we need to do these things. We need to take these things away from them. We need to take these tools away from them.’ But they never provided any kind of assistance. So there was no outlet. So to me there wasn’t any kind of due process.”

Colorado’s red flag legislation patterns itself after similar policies enacted in several states in the last two years. It allows family members, “household members,” or law enforcement officers to petition a court for a gun confiscation order against a person if that person “poses a significant risk to self or others by having a firearm in his or her custody or control or by possessing, purchasing, or receiving a firearm.”

That initial order – called a “temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order” – can be granted without the respondent being present at the hearing, and the petitioner must only establish by a “preponderance of evidence” that the person poses a risk to self or others. The preponderance of evidence standard is one of the lowest standards of evidence and only requires the petitioner to prove that the respondent is “more likely than not” to pose a danger.

SEE ALSO: Oregon Wants to Teach First Graders About Gun Safety

Once a person’s firearms have been confiscated, the court must hold a second hearing within 14 days, at which the respondent can be present. At that hearing, the petitioner must establish by “clear and convincing evidence” that the respondent poses a risk to self or others. This hearing, according to red flag law proponents, provides sufficient due process to justify the revocation of the respondent’s Second Amendment rights.

But “clear and convincing” is still a medium standard of proof. According to this standard, the petitioner must only prove that the respondent is “highly probable” to pose a danger. It falls short of the highest standard – “beyond reasonable doubt” – which is used to determine most criminal cases.

In other words, under Colorado’s new law, a person’s civil rights could be revoked based on evidentiary standards that fall short of those used in criminal proceedings.

If the court agrees to issue a full Protection Order, the respondent will lose his or her firearms for a full year. Once the year expires, the petitioner can ask the court for an extension to the original order, which the court can grant if the petitioner demonstrates the respondent is still a danger to self or others. If the Protection Order expires or is terminated, the respondent’s firearms must be returned within three days of the respondent’s requesting them.

Coloradans will be able to have their housemates’ firearms confiscated beginning January 1, 2020.

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  • Erwin Lang April 22, 2019, 12:05 pm

    Same old story with a new tactic to confiscate weapons. Where is due process in this questionable law. Any number of people could make all kind of claims to hurt someone who disagreed with them about gun possession.

  • captbarty April 22, 2019, 10:36 am

    Many above comments have correctly stated the risks of a vengeful person, whether spouse, neighbor, business rival, etc. I don’t know the law in CO, but I do know what that crook Scott pushed through here in FL, pandering to a bunch of brainwashed kids seeking to please their “teachers”. As above, someone can denounce you (I love the French Revolution term) and you are in a storm. As usual there is no recourse: those providing false information are rarely if ever punished.

    Consider this. Who are the legislators who passed this garbage? Mostly lawyers. Any lawyer worth passing law school would be aware of the attendant risks to a client, allowing such conviction by accusation. Any lawyer would advise a client of such. Why then would they pass such a monstrosity? It cannot be for legitimate legal reason. So, the answer must lie elsewhere. Yes, they are complicit in backdoor confiscation by use of the “legal processing system” (I no longer use the “J” word, because there is very little if any, it’s just a process.) with all the window dressing.

    One needs make decisions.

  • Bobs your uncle April 22, 2019, 10:21 am

    The not so funny part of this is that Polis or Shultz or whatever his real name is, has himself been the recipient of an RPO involving a former female employee so he knows exactly the amount of damage that can be caused by these orders, but he doesn’t care because it involves a group of people that wouldn’t support or vote for him in the first place.

  • David7541 April 21, 2019, 7:21 pm

    This red flag enforced; rapist, robbers and murderers smile. Way to go Colorado! You’re disarming law abiding citizens piece by piece.

  • Cory R April 20, 2019, 11:11 pm

    The obvious problem with our society is mass shootings have become a means for mentally unstable individuals to find some sort of retribution for being bullied and/or expressing grief/prejudices. Background checks to purchase firearms is a 10 minute joke that I have done several times. Maybe it is time to more extensively screen ppl who seek to own guns in an objective manner. However, with this CO law my asshole neighbor can make false claims fir whatever reason and my 2A rights are infringed upon. Liberals are going too far with gun laws and Conservatives are doing jack shit to help keep our schools safe. So like always our federal government is tied up in bipartisan bullshit and nothing gets accomplished exceptfor finger pointing and passing the fucking buck. Gun laws must be fair and objective. Gun laws must not infringe upon our constitutional rights. Gun laws need to keep our communities safe from whackjobs with a vendetta. How that happens without creating a socialist hell hole that’s the hard part.

  • MASTERMECH48 April 20, 2019, 8:43 pm

    WELL, IF executed as I see it, Law enforcement agencies should be hitting the streets to all past and present criminals whom used guns, and raid their domains to round up and prosecute them for “possession of” and probable violation of court orders of possessing/using guns as a past convicted offender. That is my prospective on that subject. NO SANE individual, would order confiscation from a level headed sane gun owner. I would hope!!

  • Kurt April 20, 2019, 1:58 am

    This is just the beginning. Look at history . The pattern is always the same. Dissarm, and enslave.
    Where is the America that lives in our history books? Is that just another lie?

    In this circumstance I can foresee plenty of trouble. All it takes is a hateful neighbor or relative to claim that your a danger.
    The second amendment is a part of the same constitution we all swear to protect. So if the police come to confiscate a man’s weapons, is he wrong to defend his property and the constitution from police officers in the act of committing treason?
    I agree with the Sheriff. I would not comply with that unconstitutional peice of law either.

    • James April 21, 2019, 12:18 am

      The second amendment is a part of the same constitution we all swear to protect. So if the police come to confiscate a man’s weapons, is he wrong to defend his property and the constitution from police officers in the act of committing treason?

      Were the hell is the USA I was born in what is this crap I agree with you Kurt 1000 Percent this is ridiculous

      and I agree with the Sheriff as well.

      • David7541 April 21, 2019, 7:27 pm

        As a sheriffs deputy you swear to uphold and defend the “Constitution Of The United States” against all enemies foreign and ‘domestic’.

        With that said; it’s their duty not only to not enforce an illegal law; but to question rigorously and e try great prejudice those that try and in act such laws.

  • Willie-O April 19, 2019, 10:16 pm

    Just the latest example of the new direction that this country is taking. Face it, the tide has shifted and not in our favor – meaning those of us that actually believe in ALL things 2nd amendment. This is yet another law that will accomplish absolutely nothing because everything it’s trying to prevent already has a law (or laws) preventing it. Seems fairly simple to me, but common sense has no standing in the mind of a liberal. This law, along with every other law passed since the Bill of Rights was ratified, is unconstitutional. They don’t think the Constitution is relevant anymore. Sounds like treason to me.

  • JR April 19, 2019, 8:27 pm

    Since the bump-stock turn in in Washington State, the word is that those who turned one in will be listed and publicly published. They lose if they comply, or they are criminalized if they don’t, but in any case you cannot trust the state. It looks like a “Hail Mary” play on the entire Western United States since Oregon, Washington, and Colorado are all trying to criminalize the 2nd Amendment.

  • Bobs your uncle April 19, 2019, 6:15 pm

    The new Red Flag law got its first test here when a young women with issues flew to the state from Florida, bought a shot gun and committed suicide all with in hours of arriving. Sadly at the same time, my guess is that people OD’ed on drugs, crashed their cars texting, etc. etc. with all the issues that confront society only one gets all the attention, why?
    People frequently mention gun laws in Germany, the registration of firearms there. In the early 1980’s a homegrown communist , Shining Path, Maoist group broke into Government offices and stole the records of who had guns and where they stored them and the went on a little rampage.

  • Vance April 19, 2019, 3:25 pm

    Everyone forgets that the beautiful state of Colorado was infiltrated by the yuppies of California many years ago and now has taken over. Maybe if all gun owners boycotts vacations and hunting it would make them think twice by taking money out of their pockets.

  • Paul Goldstein April 19, 2019, 2:29 pm

    If gun owners move from CO, CA, NJ, NY, PA, CT, etc. — where do they move to?
    The South best get ready for another influx of Yankees, but this time supporting secession.

    • Steph April 21, 2019, 11:24 pm

      WORD MY FRIEND.!!!!!! I keep telling everyone Texas is next. Think about it no matter how much old money we have the influx of transient SCHMUCKS will tilt the scale….

      Also as far as resources by 2030 Texas will be like Las Vegas…. Not enough resources/infrastructure to support the amount of people living here.

      • Jeff January 10, 2020, 1:55 pm

        Texas is already lost -Austin, Houston, and the hits just keep on coming. The camel’s nose is in the tent all over the state. Instead of bitching about the politicians, why aren’t the foot soldiers of these clowns being the one’s under seige. Maybe you all should start harassing the member’s of mom’s demand action, everytown for gun safety, etc, so that they can see and feel what it is like to lose their privacy, their right’s. Get their names out on the street like they do to gun owner’s and let them see what it is like to no longer have any way to protect themselves or their families from “the public” . You can no longer sit back and say it isn’t affecting you, because it is. Or you wouldn’t have read this article and been responding such as you are. Fight back, or quit whining. I guarantee you that when I find out who they are, and that they are associated with group’s wanting to take away my right’s, they will know what it is like to lose theirs.

  • JoshO April 19, 2019, 2:03 pm

    Come and take it.

  • Mark Henry April 19, 2019, 1:59 pm

    These “red flag laws” are concomitant with the establishment of a police state precisely designed around the occurrences reminiscent of 1930’s Nazi Germany. Without due process, it is a constitutional violation of the bill of rights. All of these people have managed to exhibit an unhinged “sheep like” behavior without intellectual, individual reasoning capability which tells me they are all mindless, automatons. This concept gives rise to the actuality of someone who does not know me or anything about me can cause a midnight raid just because they don’t like my looks or any other reason they, for unknown motivation, want to cause me a truly life threatening peril. Remember, under these laws, the police are authorized to use deadly force in a totally illegal, unconstitutional way. Extremely dangerous to the freedom and safety of totally innocent citizens. I fully support the sheriff who is willing to not enforce these illegal, life threatening, laws. Beware of Socio-communists telling you they have your safety and security; they DO NOT!!!

  • Dave April 19, 2019, 1:40 pm

    Colorado has failed it’s citizens. When you can take guns from people without justification or due process, you have entered the realm of Nazi-ism Time to move out of COLORADO.

  • Dan April 19, 2019, 1:05 pm

    What happened to “We the people” We supposedly put them in office, WHY don’t we kick them out. They don’t speak for the majority do they? As soon as the guns are all confiscated then we can all unlock out doors and live in absolute peace, right?????????
    Either real nuts put them in office or crooked electronic voting machines, real Americans didn’t. Kick the b…..ds out.

    • Robert Brennan April 20, 2019, 3:52 pm

      Dan, Democracy gives us the right to vote people in and out of public office. So use your vote. Maybe send a big contribution to the NRA. I hear they’ve been coming up short lately.

      • David7541 April 21, 2019, 7:32 pm

        It’s pussies like you that just sit on your six point of contact and complain like a butch and nothing will happen of it.

  • bud April 19, 2019, 1:03 pm

    First off I am sick of people who think society will just all of the sudden be law abiding citizens if the 2nd Amendment is abolished! This is in our Constitution!! Do not dismantle it!
    Secondly in thought I can see where things like this may be something that looks good on paper, but to me its just a gateway for eventual foothold to pollute the law to use it to eventually abuse the law, by the state, or persons who just may not like an individual!
    I see no good coming from such laws for law abiding gun owners!

    • Kurt April 20, 2019, 2:03 am

      The second amendment says shall not be infringed. “Whats the definition of INFRINGEMENT?
      There isn’t a constitutional gun control law on the books!

  • Mark McKinney April 19, 2019, 12:57 pm

    The Sheriff is correct for protecting his deputies. Because such a law will cause more deaths to law enforcement officers. Any confiscation law is an anti 2nd Amendment Law and my militia will not stand for it. Now that being said. I would lose against an array of anti-American Brown Shirts coming to take any firearm I may own…but not before I take out at least two or more with my training. Protect your deputies you elected Sheriffs. You have sworn an oath to protect the CONSTITUTION against enemies Foreign and DOMESTIC and more and more, tyranical politicians are becoming domestic enemies under the guise of protecting us. What a joke!

  • blg April 19, 2019, 11:59 am

    Illinois has joined the red flag group. But then Illinois is the California of the Mid West.

    • Ron Peterson April 19, 2019, 12:43 pm

      I agree with one ammendment, is that the REQUIRED
      Age for any type of ARMS should be 21. But people don’t use COMMON SENSE!
      ITS NOT THE GUNS FAULT! ALL WEAPONS HAVE TO BE FIRED MANUALLY!
      PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE!
      Example if you take away guns. Then PEOPLE will use,say, KNIFES. So then are you going to take AWAY KNIFES???
      Then people will use what ever they can put their HANDS ON!!!
      Maybe we should amputate EVERYONE’S HANDS.!!!!!!!

      • Dougery April 19, 2019, 8:56 pm

        I’ve always said they should also include an IQ test and anyone below 100 is no go also anyone fitting lowlife profile is no go lol. But we all know that’s reserved for the illegally gotten guns argument

      • Oohrah April 20, 2019, 4:51 am

        So would when you consider 18 year olds for draft or to serve in any branch of the service, you would send them without weapons? I joined at 17, and was accomplished with both a rifle and a handgun at that age. If you refuse to allow until 21, something is badly wrong. Either a very poor upbringing, or they need to be sent to a school that teaches responsibility instead of sex education where Johnny has two Daddys.

      • Derek Hannan April 20, 2019, 9:04 am

        POTUS recently cited the UK case where a disturbed youth attacked, stabbed and slashed 17 children. What he didn’t mention was that nobody died. People kill people but guns do make it easier. That’s why we carry.

        I’m pro 2A but I don’t agree that a child or self medicating octogenarian should have a gun. Be honest, how many drivers did you see last week that shouldn’t have a license?

        Unfortunately, “A well regulated militia” we are not.

  • tomlightfield April 19, 2019, 11:58 am

    There is going to be a bunch of housemates getting shot!!!!!!!

  • Fred Ward April 19, 2019, 11:53 am

    If these people are that likely to commit an act of violence, why give them 3 days to turn in their guns? An unbalanced man would get order and go on a shooting spree.

    • Altoids April 19, 2019, 12:13 pm

      If people are that likely to commit an act of violence, they need to be sent in for a psych eval. If it’s determined that they are violent, then they need to be confined.

      There are no background checks for machetes that can be purchased at a local hardware store for $20. Taking guns away does nothing to solve the problem of a truly violent individual with mental problems.

  • StevO April 19, 2019, 11:52 am

    How did a anti-gun person ever get elected in that State?

    • tomlightfield April 19, 2019, 11:57 am

      Colorado has been a lib state for decades!!!!

      • John April 19, 2019, 1:29 pm

        Denver, Bolder are lib,not the rest, certainly not my part.

    • RRanngel April 19, 2019, 12:32 pm

      Because Denver.

    • Ted April 20, 2019, 1:02 am

      Because back in the 80’s or so, Californians figured out they could sell their house for a killing, then move to Colorado and buy a house for the same square footage for about half the cost. Colorado turned blue. Libs always corrupt wherever they go.

  • december April 19, 2019, 11:47 am

    You really think that after a year the police might still have the firearms locked up somewhere? Yeah, right.
    Oh maybe a few, but if there is anything nice or collectible in there it will simply disappear with a “we are not sure what happened. As determined by our department your Holland and Holland double in 416 Rigby is worth $200. Have a nice day.”

  • Ray Atkinson April 19, 2019, 11:35 am

    I retired form 43 years of law Enforcement, both state and Federal..My only comment is every legal and illelgal drug dealer, and drug user in Colorado will own a gun or guns, and the citizens will be without..The liberals will lead you down the Yellor brick road to Hitlers Germany..Take your guns, take your books, take each freedom away one by one, and con you with its for your own good..History repeats itself, and we never learn.

    • Altoids April 19, 2019, 12:28 pm

      More true words have rarely been posted.
      I salute you, sir!

    • Beverly Forrester April 19, 2019, 8:35 pm

      Why is it that the anti-gun lobbiest can’t get it through their heads that the criminals will ALWAYS have guns because they don’t have to go through legal channels to get one! Disarm all the “good guys” and the only ones armed will be the criminals. Then it will be open season on your house, my house and our lives won’t be worth a plug nickel.

    • Bobs your uncle April 22, 2019, 3:45 pm

      Drug dealers and criminals need their guns. Colorado, want to see your future? look up Murder Mountain, Humboldt CA.

  • Buddy April 19, 2019, 11:15 am

    Anyone that has gone through the nightmare of being reported to APS and with false reports knows how dangerous this law is. You get caught up with lawyers fees and court appearances for absolutely no reason and the accusers have absolutely no penalties when you are cleared. They don’t want to discourage anyone from reporting real abuse so no one is prosecuted for false claims. We have been accused for 7 years, fought and won each case but the cost had been enormous. This is a disasterous bill that will be abused by every family member with a grudge. Pathetic.

  • Daniel Braatz April 19, 2019, 11:10 am

    May have to start calling my state “Calirado.” I was afraid we might have been heading this direction when ‘they’ banned private sales- & I could no longer buy or sell certain types of property without going through an FFL. Then the magazine capacity limit became law: What’s next? Bullet buttons? Fixed mag.s only? No more “scary looking” firearms? I’m not sure I want the answer to that question.

  • David Bates April 19, 2019, 11:07 am

    GUNS DO NOT KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. IF YOU THING DIFFERENT , TRY THIS LAY A GUN ON A TABLE ANT TELL THE GUN TO KILL YOU. BET YOU ALL THE MONEY I HAVE , NOTHING WILL HAPPEN, BUT IF YOU PICK UP THE GUN AN SHOOT YOURSELF. THEN YOU THE PERSON JUST SHOT A PERSON.. DEMOCRATS LOOK AT THIS AS DISARM AMERICA AND THEY WILL OVERTHROW AMERICA AND YOU WILL HAVE NO WAY TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY OR SELF. AMERICA WAKE UP BEFORE ITS TO LATE . THERE ARE STATES THAT HATE YOU AND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE . BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU WANT TO KILL SOME ONE YOU DO NOT NEED A GUN.

  • Charles April 19, 2019, 11:07 am

    CONGRATULATIONS COLORADO! You have just passed the Anti-American test. I have the middle finger for everyone that voted for this outrage!

  • Buddy April 19, 2019, 11:01 am

    Anyone that has gone through the nightmare of being reported to APS and with false reports knows how dangerous this law is. You get caught up with lawyers fees and court appearances for absolutely no reason and the accusers have absolutely no penalties when you are cleared. They don’t want to discourage anyone from reporting real abuse so no one is prosecuted for false claims. This is a disaster.

    • Jim Cargill April 19, 2019, 1:43 pm

      Wait a minute….you have recourse through civil court. If the “investigation” finds that you are not in violation, or a threat, and you receive your guns back, you should then immediately sue in civil court for recovery of the cost of defending yourself against frivolous legal action. It could even be done in a lower court, at minimal cost.

      • Oohrah April 20, 2019, 12:12 pm

        Evidently you have never dealt with the system! You have no idea what the cost involved with even trivial civil and criminal courts cost. Long before this law went into effect, a friend made a stupid remark to his then mother in law when she failed to leave his house. She worked for the Department of Corrections, and knew the ins and outs of the how to, and filed charges of Domestic threats. He managed to farm out his firearms to various friends, and turned himself in when phoned, posted bond. He was divorced, and the charges from his mother in law stayed. It was approximately three years, various anger management classes, and some other dreamed court required mandated requirements. An Attorney who was VERY expensive was able to restore his firearms rights, and he collected his collection from those whom he entrusted. Was he a threat? No was he changed from all the classes ? Negative, a waste of time and money. Bottom line is over nothing, time and money made it all go away. Not all can afford that pathway.

  • Scooter Lippy April 19, 2019, 10:59 am

    The Republicans tried to put in a clause punishing the roommate who complains if it is a frivolous claim. They brought up the case of the neighbor who complained about a guy having guns and being crazy that resulted in a couple of police officer shot and the homeowner gun owner killed because of a fence dispute. The Democrats have the votes to pass it without adding the frivolous petitioner clause so there is no recourse for the homeowner to go after the person who is trying to get back at him out of spite. Totally bogus law among many turning my beloved Colorado into another communist California. Time for another recall drive.

  • Michael Quinn April 19, 2019, 10:57 am

    History repeats itself when we don’t pay attention. If we allow the Socialist left to take control, we will be on the same footing as Cuba and North Korea.

  • perlcat April 19, 2019, 10:52 am

    If you are thinking: “Shouldn’t be a problem for me, I’m sane, in a stable marriage, never had a brush with the law”, let me disillusion you. The same people that put this law into place are the same people that try to ban the US flag, MAGA caps, and differing opinions because they feel threatened by their presence. If they see your firearm, they will report it and you, whether that be a pistol, rifle, crossbow, airsoft or oddly shaped stick.

  • Dan April 19, 2019, 10:14 am

    So, in other words a person can lie about someone else and get their stuff taken without any evidence. Wow. And would that ever happen? Ever seen domestic disputes or divorce proceedings? Just recently a family member who is going through a divorce had his ex lie about his new girlfriend….and got her guns taken away…and it was just a lie, so that she could show she had some power. And the divorce was initiated by the wife sleeping around, but she lied about her soon-to-be-ex’s girlfriend. Yeah, this stupid leftist law, which is supposed to be a “start” in the path to taking guns from everyone, is wrong and will do not good at all.

  • Kent April 19, 2019, 10:12 am

    It seems as though a number of states are in desperate need of governors of the caliber of Trump to keep the round heel leftist scum bags from surrendering to the female cowards that run most of the households in crapafornia, colorada, and new dork… probably a few other states as well with women withholding sexual favors to their mental deficient mates..

    • Kurt April 20, 2019, 9:26 am

      If you really want a better take on how we got here, how all this works, and where it’s going. Read “The Devils Chessboard.”
      Its a biography of Allen Dulles our spymaster from WWI to 1961. Its not so much about Dulles, but all the dirty underhanded crap our federal government has pulled in the name of national security.
      Allen Dulles was also a Wall Street Attorney. Go figure.

    • Derek Hannan April 20, 2019, 4:13 pm

      POTUS is for this law. Read the article.

  • Mark Hopkins April 19, 2019, 10:10 am

    Well, I used to go through Colorado on vacation. We spent money there and visited a lot of beautiful sites in that state. I’ll never set foot in that state again, nor will any of my family. As communism spreads there are fewer and fewer states we’ll travel to. I’m beginning to believe it’s going to take a civil war to set things right again and rid ourselves of the tyranny of communist oppression. I never thought I’d see such a radical spread of communism/fascism in the United States. This is at least partly the result of unchecked illegal immigration and foreign influence. Their communist ideology should never have been allowed anywhere near our government.

  • Big Al April 19, 2019, 10:07 am

    “Coloradans” my fanny, this is a perfect example of our new Governor kowtowing to the Democrat Party and NOT listening to anyone outside of the Left Wing Democrat enclave’s of Denver and Boulder.
    Why did several Counties wish to withdraw from the State and seek independence???
    Because of THIS kind of Left Wing fascism, that’s why.
    From these types of political issues to things like Fracking and energy, the Colorado Democrat Party is unleashed and bound to turn this State into another California.
    Polis is a Rat Bastard Democrat Party man, plain and simple.

    • Heather Lakeland April 19, 2019, 11:05 am

      Good Luck! We are all going to need it.

    • Tc April 19, 2019, 7:01 pm

      I am sick of my rights being manipulated by these flipping Democrats and their socialism. Time to say good bye to Colorado.

  • Resident April 19, 2019, 10:06 am

    I want everyone to understand very clearly that there was a nearly identical measure that was put up for statewide vote and it was soundly defeated. The legislature and the new governor very specifically went out of their way to go against the measure that was defeated.

  • deanbob April 19, 2019, 10:05 am

    Isn’t odd how when it comes to Trump, the progressive/left demand the constitution be followed; but then they turn right around and act illiterate when it comes to the last 4, simple words of the second amendment?

    hy·poc·ri·sy
    /həˈpäkrəsē/
    noun
    the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; pretense.

  • Jay April 19, 2019, 9:52 am

    Red flag laws in the name of safety only means your loss of liberty and freedom! Our fore fathers would be hanging these types of people in the street for all to see and be warned!

  • Icabad NastyFace April 19, 2019, 9:51 am

    What a sad day when America uses the same tactics as Nazi Germany of ratting out the other household members: i.e. Placing a govenment’s dictates or “perceived” rights of other family and household members above an individual’s “constitutional” rights.

    • deanbob April 19, 2019, 10:11 am

      They do so only when it supports their agenda or narrative. Notice how they demanded President Trump adhere to what they believed was the constitution on multiple occasions?

    • Will April 19, 2019, 10:55 am

      Not even the Nazis went this far but the (((Bolsheviks))) sure did and still do.

    • Mahatma Mujesbude April 19, 2019, 11:18 am

      The G and the ‘Eye’ already have encouragement programs and online contact info for snitching on your neighbor or anybody for only so called ‘suspicious’ activity (like legally buying fireworks or model hobby rocket parts online or related etc.) and also provide monetary ‘rewards’ if such a ‘tip’ leads to criminal prosecution. If and when the G ever ramps up their ultimate plan for Fusion Centers to proceed as bare-balled surveillance mechanisms for their social constituents and customers for special remuneration or tax breaks, It won’t be safe to do much of anything anymore without somebody being able to instantly violate your rights just because they think you might be getting ready to do something bad? Which will be Everything or Anything you do involving a firearm, or just because you own one, in and of itself? Because the initiators of this unlawful legislation have already found your gun to be ‘GUILTY’ of violating their perverted anti-2nd/A agenda.

      The problem with this insidious violation of all that is supposed to be protected in an egalitarian Constitutionally guaranteed libertarian society with solid privacy expectations is that something this egregious gets out of control very fast. And any ‘excuse’ or stretch of the imagination can turn into physical deprivation of your rights effectively bypassing your Bill of rights protection. Kind of like a legislation two-step to the devil’s prom dance.

      For someone’s right’s to be suspended because of a criminal Act, or conspiracy to commit a criminal act, first there must be reasonable suspicion before they even begin an investigation legally, and then there must be articulatable and verifiable probable cause for an arrest, confiscation, or detainment to proceed, along with the necessary evidentiary warrants and due process requirements.

      ALL of which is absent in this bullshit Red Flag Fraud. Just like it was and is anywhere else where Dictatorship rules.

      But these Oath Keeping Sheriff’s still are more on the Defensive than actually pro-active. If I were the Sheriff and my state had one of these unlawful and Constitutionally illegal state laws going up for a vote I would give these legislators a head’s up warning that their ‘lawmaking’ activity is starting to create a serious reasonable suspicion of doing criminal acts “…under color of law” As defined in 18 USCC 241-242, which amounts to a felony act if they proceed in furtherance of the crime to pass an illegal state statue, AND WOULD THEN GIVE ME PLAIN VIEW PROBABLE CAUSE FOR AN ARREST OF ALL INVOLVED IN THE CONSPIRACY.

      And if they already passed it like they did in that Sheriff Dean’s State in the news last week and threatened to arrest me if I didn’t comply with this Hitlarian Nazi Red Flag Guilty until proven innocent travesty of justice, I just assemble my swat team and deputize as many able bodied good citizens as available, gather my Deputies and hand cuff them all right in their legislative enclave in where they performed this illegal crime against American Citizens, charging them all with the felony violation of 18-242. Depriving of one’s Due Process and Constitutional rights under Color of Law.

      And see how they’d like that counter threat? Of course this would take mucho grande huevos, and iron will because with all the corrupt municipal government out there these days, they’d be hard pressed to get a DA to go along with the charges…But I certainly wouldn’t let ‘no stankin lilly livered commie legislator threaten ME with jail for protecting my citizen’s rights if I were ‘THE Sheriff of the County!

  • John Powell April 19, 2019, 9:46 am

    They can take the guns from those people but not from the terrorists or the gangs. They never seem to learn this! Restricting sales, putting stores out of business, this list goes on. They just can’t regulate the criminals for the same old reason, they don’t go by the laws.
    Yes societies change but not necessarily for the good of the people. The democrats are taking money from the working people and spending it on getting more votes by letting criminals in this country by the millions, that is the changing of society.
    Then try to cover it up by making gun laws and putting on a big show about it. We have mayors standing up at the podium with the news cameras going saying how they are going to enact various gun laws in their city that have been federal laws for years. Just sounds good to the uninformed public, more votes for them.

    • perlcat April 19, 2019, 10:56 am

      It’s not that they never learn. They just don’t care. If logic or basic humanity played a part in any of their “thinking”, they wouldn’t be talking about this as it is stupid and cruel on the face of it. Everything is about political victories, and decency, humanity, and logic are simply not wanted.

  • Michael R Stuhr April 19, 2019, 9:42 am

    Left up to them and gun ownership will constitute a “red flag”

  • Skip April 19, 2019, 9:39 am

    But yet Co makes illegal drugs legal?..I won’t be visiting or living in Co anytime soon..

  • Alej April 19, 2019, 9:07 am

    A bonanza for embittered ex-wives.

    • perlcat April 19, 2019, 11:02 am

      I’ll say. My ex reported me for suicidal thoughts during the process of my shedding 250 lbs of ugly fat. When the sheriff came out to interview me, and he saw the only thing I had was an antique .22 rifle that didn’t work, he just laughed, said “I get this crap all the time from ex-wives.” If I’m going to kill myself with a .22 rifle, I’d better have Hillary’s crew help, as the first three or four shots might not do the trick. Either that, or I should have that weird chick with a forehead (fivehead?) like a billboard come by for motivational speeches. I suppose in a pinch, I could have Casey Anthony take out adoption papers on me…

  • Dan B Barber April 19, 2019, 9:07 am

    Colorado has become another CA and will never return to the original state. CO already had a law to hold you for 72 hours and then take you before a judge to remove your guns if need be and also have a mental check done. All within the Constitution and not violate any of your rights. The left just wanted a way to confiscate your guns and your rights legally—the first step in doing away with the Constitution, your free speech is next.

  • Ed April 19, 2019, 8:36 am

    Colorado destined to become the next ILL… it will take a few more years but I believe the only people moving to CO will be those “of the left”. Thankfully, my son decided to move to TX after doing a little research on CO’s tendencies.

    • Jim Singer April 19, 2019, 9:06 am

      You are right. Colorado is becoming know as the little California.

    • deanbob April 19, 2019, 10:38 am

      I moved here (Texas) almost 50 years ago and never regretted it. I think we are also falling prey to progressive-ism. While the legislature has remained relatively conservative, a recent Tx House vote, 149-0 (including Texas’ Freedom caucus!) , failed to include any meaningful property tax reform. Fortunately the Tx Senate has passed it. Now we await the House.

  • Cedric Satterfield April 19, 2019, 8:30 am

    It’s not a criminal proceeding, and, as a veteran with mental health and anger issues, I’m the last person that is in a position to determine behind reasonable doubt to determine if I’m acting in a manner that might cause harm to myself or others. As a gun owner and shooter, I have no issues with this even if it was me. If it gets abused they will revisit it but LE has a job to do and if they aren’t going to do it then they can get elected out or removed for cause.

    • Alej April 19, 2019, 9:04 am

      Your reply proves you have mental health issues.

    • Mav April 19, 2019, 9:09 am

      Fortunately the Sheriff’s take an oath to the Constitution. That is the law of the land, and not illegal “laws” enacted by the state legislators. They do not have to follow this and the honest ones have stood up and said as much.

    • Michael Keim April 19, 2019, 9:32 am

      What about the oath you took to defend the Constitution. The sheriffs that are fighting these unconstitutional laws are to be commended. On the other hand, you sir are despicable. I smell an anti gun person and you stink.

    • Miner April 19, 2019, 9:34 am

      Your inability to control yourself should not limit my liberty. Never should an angry roommate or ex be able to have your rights revoked. Confiscation without due process is a clear violation of the Fifth Amendment. Just because the property is a gun does not make it ‘ok’. There is more at stake here that just the Second Amendment,

      You can kill with a knife or a bomb, or even fists and feet. Lack of a gun does not make an unsafe person suddenly safe – it does not even make them less dangerous. I suspect you can still drive, and vastly more people die from automobiles.

      Do not let other people’s fear be used as a tool to take our freedom.

      • cabezas cabezas April 19, 2019, 11:45 am

        Why can’t the people of Colorado sue this clear violation. Sue to set this illegal leftist effort aside till Colorado law abiden citizens have their day in court. As to the mental health issue of veterans, next just cause you are a veteran , you the veteran will have to proof you are not a danger to self, family or others. This is were this is headed. We veterans will be penalize for serving our country. We are a clear and present danger to communism/socialism. They want our guns. ” IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED” God will continue to bless this great country.

    • Jay April 19, 2019, 9:51 am

      Your response smells of TROLL!

    • Big Al April 19, 2019, 5:19 pm

      Exactly, it’s NOT a criminal proceeding, But you seem to be in agreement that a CONSTITUTIONAL right can be taken from ANY citizen WITHOUT just that proceeding, which is in DIRECT violation of the Constitution.
      Not to mention it’s also being done in the absence of the accused, another violation of Constitutional rights.
      Like them, I question just HOW that very simple fact has escaped you?
      The answer is simple too, it’s hasn’t escaped them, they did it deliberately, with intent.
      If they are willing to do this, they are willing to do others things that violate the Constitution.

  • Mike Ellison April 19, 2019, 8:07 am

    Thank you for keeping us posted on the stupid laws being passed. I guess the people of Colorado now see what their Democratic party will be doing the next 4 years.

  • Robert J. Lucas April 19, 2019, 7:49 am

    FEAR OF WHAT IS RIGHT!

    Extreme Risk Protection Orders=People Control, the first step to Extermination.

    What are you afraid of? I will tell what I fear, the erosion of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights without due process in which the foundations of this country have existed upon for over two centuries. The re-interpretation, and the re-defining of these original documents is a perverted insult to the legal citizens of the United States. Many U.S. Families, including mine, since the inception of these documents have shed their blood to protect these foundations, and continue to do so in the present day. Our forefathers did not arm the American people for hunting, but rather to protect themselves from those who were doing the hunting, namely the tyrant King George. The second amendment is only to vouchsafe our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and to ensure all the other rights given unto us by our Creator.
    The wisdom of the framers of the Constitution once again is found consistent with the lessons of the Bible they used as their bedrock for civil law. The people’s individual protection should always be a primary concern of government “of the people”. In a righteous country, self-government reigns by the constraint of Christian morals. The civil government that desires such a monopoly of force (i.e. they are the only ones with guns) is a threat to the lives, liberty, and property of its citizens, for that government ceases to be “of and for the people.”

    The self- proclaimed “social-justice warriors” hopes that no one has educated themselves on past extermination history that this globe has suffered time and time again, which proves their circle of insanity.

    “The right of decent private United States citizens to personally possess, transport, and responsibly use arms without government interference is the ultimate freedom and the main pillar supporting all other liberties.”
    “The inalienable and fundamental right to keep and bear arms which is enumerated by (but predates) the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is not about hunting, gun collecting, or target shooting. Its purpose is to ensure that every RESPONSIBLE American personally possesses the means to defend the Republic from all forms of tyranny, within and without. It is what permits the other nine Amendments in the Bill of Rights to be more than mere hollow phrases on a piece of paper. “Its free exercise is the antithesis of serfdom and THE ONLY MEANINGFUL FORM OF HOLOCAUST INSURANCE KNOWN TO MAN”.

    And to Shannon Watts, put that into your pipe along with your Colorado legalized devils’ lettuce, and smoke it!

    • Patrick Maurer April 19, 2019, 12:07 pm

      Very well said, and precisely what our forefathers and framers of our Constitutional Republic agreed upon. A government of, by and for the citizens, and protection from a tyrannical government run amuck. Which seems to be where more and more of these states are heading.

  • Robert J. Lucas April 19, 2019, 7:35 am

    The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It must change with society, like a living organism, or it will become brittle and break. But you would have to be an idiot to believe that.”
    The late, great Justice Antonin Scalia.

    Anti-constitutionalist’s sense of morality is situational, based on incident and emotion, instead of rooted in God’s word and law.
    Anti-constitutionalist’s stand for nothing. The situation determines their support for an issue and their emotions rule, not reason and rationality.
    Moreover, they recognize the contradiction, but still cling to their situational justice. Situational justice is the tool of dictators, tyrants, despots, and unjust, unrighteous monarchs. It has no place in a free constitutional republic. In which the United States of America is……………….

    Anti-Constitutionalist’s=Anti-Americans=Enemies of the United States…

    The Worst part is these people do not even know it. They are part of a collective of useful idiots..
    The old addage rings true; Cut Your Nose Off Dispite Your Face.

  • Jeff April 19, 2019, 7:07 am

    ‘FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS’ Is all i can say!!!!

  • Bill Nuy The Honest Guy April 17, 2019, 5:57 pm

    I had my firearms taken because of the red flag laws in Florida. I never committed a violent crime. After I had a RPO granted against me, I was seriously assaulted resulting in a serious shoulder injury. Fair? I\’m thinking about filing a lawsuit against Florida for emotional distress. Truly they are taking firearms without due process but are requiring due process to get them back. Our 2nd, 5th and 14th amendment rights being taken away is going to get a lot of innocent people hurt in the name of safety and law.

    • Barf April 19, 2019, 7:35 am

      Do it. It should only take about ten minutes to read the second and fourth amendments and explain them.

  • Bill Nuy The Honest Guy April 17, 2019, 5:54 pm

    I had my firearms taken because of the red flag laws in Florida. I never committed a violent crime. After I had a RPO granted against me, I was seriously assaulted resulting in a serious shoulder injury. Fair? I’m thinking about filing a lawsuit against Florida for emotional distress. Truly they are taking firearms without due process but are requiring due process to get them back. Our 2nd, 5th and 14th amendment rights being taken away is going to get a lot of innocent people hurt in the name of safety and law.

  • Barry Newman April 16, 2019, 12:35 pm

    Incremental 2nd amendment discretion.

    • Bobs your uncle April 16, 2019, 10:42 am

      Whats the message? Move to Colorado, loose your civil rights!

  • Rez ipsa loquitur April 16, 2019, 5:15 am

    I was the subject of a non-domestic restraining order sought by a neighbor after he had been refused three times, he forged his wife and her juvenile child’s name to another order and presented the bulging pack of lies to a judge, knowing no judge would deny a request involving a woman and child, he didn’t bother to disclose to the court that he was himself a prohibited person and remains so,even tho he has changed his name and returned to the state.
    This is a clever political end run that serves no one and likely will do more harm than good. Don’t like your neighbor or ex? just call the cops and say “I’m so afraid I think he has a gun sob sob” and bingo you’ve ruined someones life. Rest assured it will take years for them to clear their name.

  • Sepp W April 15, 2019, 8:40 pm

    Colorado is done. The people have let the socialist take over the state. Pat yourself on the back Colorado, for a job well done. Your rights and freedoms are next.

    • Resident April 19, 2019, 10:09 am

      Sadly, there isn’t currently a way to block the illegal immigration of Californians fleeing their state to come to ours and then think that, gosh, it sure would be nice if we had the same things we had in California and bam we are right back to where the hell they started. Don’t worry, your state will be on the block next when the infiltration of these morons fully hits your state.

      • Dougery April 19, 2019, 9:10 pm

        They tried that bs in Texas people that moved from California bc they couldn’t afford Cali. Trying to impose they’re way of life here in Texas hasn’t worked yet

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