NEVER TOLERATE TYRANNY!....Conservative voices from the GRASSROOTS.

Oppose S. 150--the "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013" and The United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.

Senate Judiciary Committee Begins Consideration of Feinstein's "Assault Weapons" Bill

Posted on March 8, 2013

On March 7, the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), began consideration of several bills, including anti-gun Sen. Dianne Feinstein's S. 150--the "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013."

The controversial bill has already been met with much resistance. During debate on the bill, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) pointed out that "Congress and President Clinton tried a so-called assault weapons ban 19 years ago and we have the benefit of hindsight as well as some research to examine the lackluster results of that decade-long experiment. According to the Department of Justice's own study it was completely ineffectual in reducing murder or violent crime rates."

Cornyn continued, "So, are we really going to pass another law that will have zero effect, and pat ourselves on the back and say 'We've accomplished something wonderful?' Well, we tried this experiment once and it failed, and I think it promotes symbolism over seriousness to repeat that mistake."

Sen. Cornyn also offered an amendment to exempt all U.S. military personnel and veterans from Feinstein's proposed ban, but the measure was rejected by a 9-9 party-line vote. During this portion of debate, Feinstein argued that a military veteran could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (which she bizarrely claimed was a "new phenomenon as a product of the Iraq war"), and suggested that they should therefore be prevented from buying or "having a weapon like this."

Feinstein, herself, was quoted as saying, "I've been very concerned because the calls have been coming in as if this is some kind of wild eyed scheme." We couldn't agree more.

The committee recessed in the midst of debating the bill and will resume markup of the bill next Thursday, March 14.

Please continue to contact your Senators and tell them to oppose S. 150--the "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013." To identify and contact your legislators in Washington, D.C., you can use the "Write Your Reps" feature at www.NRAILA.org, or you can reach your member of Congress by phone at 202-224-3121.

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/federal-legislation/2013/3/senate...

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Almost One-Third of State Sheriffs' Organizations Now Oppose Obama Gun Control

Posted on March 8, 2013

According to a recent Washington Examiner article, a total of 14 sheriffs' associations now oppose President Obama's proposed gun control measures.

The article notes that sheriffs' associations in South Carolina, California and, most recently, Nevada, have joined the growing group of other state associations in demanding that Obama stop going after law-abiding gun owners and instead focus on improving the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

"We have all seen what persons who have mental illness, who are users of illegal controlled substances, or are members of criminal gangs can do with weapons in their hands; any weapons, not just firearms. As it currently stands, many of these individuals are not entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for a whole variety of reasons. This must be addressed at the national, state and local levels," said the Nevada sheriffs.

"The sheriffs of the state of Nevada do not believe that the answer to this issue includes making criminals out of otherwise law-abiding individuals. As the old saying goes, 'As guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.' The answer lies within a myriad of approaches including education, addressing violence, keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill, criminal gang members, and illegal controlled substance users, as well as prosecuting and incarcerating those who would use firearms to commit crimes."

http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/articles/2013/3/almost-one-third-...

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You Can Help Defeat Proposed U.N. Arms Trade Treaty

Posted on March 8, 2013

Just as NRA warned would happen, following last November's presidential election, the Obama administration immediately moved forward with its plans to support a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. On Wednesday November 7, the U.S. Mission to the U.N. made clear its support for renewed ATT negotiations, casting a vote in favor of a resolution that calls for a "Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty" to be held in New York City from March 18-28.

If signed, the ATT would be a legally binding treaty that would require parties to the treaty to adhere to the treaty's provisions, many of which (as proposed in a month-long meeting last July) are incompatible with our Second Amendment rights. For the treaty to be ratified it would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote in the U.S. Senate. During the July ATT conference, NRA conducted a successful campaign to stop the treaty.

The latest resolution notes that at the March conference, the last draft from the July conference will be the starting point for new talks.

On November 13, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) introduced his own resolution strongly urging President Obama not to sign the ATT.

In a November 16 press release, Rep. Kelly said, "There is considerable cause for alarm regarding the UN’s renewed efforts to forge an Arms Trade Treaty that could trample the constitutional rights of Americans, and could seriously compromise our national security and the security of our allies, whom we will be less able to arm and less quick to defend due to the restrictions placed on us by the ATT. My colleagues and I stand committed to fighting this threat to our sovereignty and to standing up for the U.S. Constitution, which we are all sworn to support and defend.”

Rep. Kelly now has an online petition that you can sign to help protect our Second Amendment rights by urging the president to reject the proposed U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. Again, the final ATT conference starts in less than two weeks! Please take a moment--right now--to sign the petition by clicking here. It’s time to stand together to defeat the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty!

http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/articles/2013/3/you-can-help-defe...

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Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 9:40pm

Dianne Feinstein: It’s Legal To Hunt Humans

Yesterday, I wrote about the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in which Senator and gun grabber Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said she was all for removing firearms from veterans in America who have PTSD.

In that same setting, Feinstein again lied about something that is clearly illegal as she appealed to emotions stating, “It’s legal to hunt humans with 15-round, 30-round, even 150-round magazines.”

I confess that when I first heard it, I was trying to put it in context and tried to give here the benefit of the doubt that perhaps she meant to use the word “illegal.” This was not the case. In blasting an amendment to her draconian firearms ban bill that would exempt veterans from the ban, she moved into the realm of high capacity magazines.

“The time has come, America, to step up and ban these weapons. The other very important part of this bill is to ban large capacity ammunition feeding devices, those that hold more than 10 rounds. We have federal regulations and state laws that prohibit hunting ducks with more than three rounds. And yet it’s legal to hunt humans with 15-round, 30-round, even 150-round magazines. Limiting magazine capacity is critical because it is when a criminal, a drug dealer, a deranged individual has to pause to change magazines and reload that the police or brave bystanders have the opportunity to take that individual down.”

Frankly, Senator Feinstein doesn’t know what she is talking about. It is not legal, in any sense of the word, to hunt humans. Those that do so are called criminals specifically because they are in violation of the law and it doesn’t matter if they do so with a semi-automatic rifle or handgun, or even a revolver.

This is where emotional arguments will get you. They have you saying some of the most ridiculous things. In addition to the claim about hunting humans being legal, she also argued that a limitation on a magazine’s capacity is “critical” because it allows for a person to pause and reload which would give “police or brave bystanders have the opportunity to take that individual down.”

Think about it for just a moment. Dianne Feinstein voted in favor of the Gun Free Zone Act. That act banned possession of a firearm while in a school zone, something that is clearly unconstitutional. Yet her talk began by citing school shootings, specifically she and her Democrat partners in crime have been seeking to exploit the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. According to the legislation she supported and voted for, there should be no “brave bystanders” armed in those areas to take anyone down. Police? Ha! Yeah right Mrs. Feinstein.Police are not immediately on the scene. Even responding quickly could take minutes and by that time the damage is done. Some cities are coming to that conclusion as well.

Even people who deal with fully automatic weapons in our military have refuted her ignorant statements about any significant amount of time being beneficial to stopping someone engaged in a shooting spree of this nature by limiting the capacity of magazines. “As experts in military weapons of all types,” a letter signed by more than 1,100 retired and current Army Special... reads, ” it is our considered opinion that reducing magazine capacity from 30 rounds to 10 rounds will only require an additional 6 -8 seconds to change two empty 10 round magazines with full magazines. Would an increase of 6 –8 seconds make any real difference to the outcome in a mass shooting incident? In our opinion it would not.”

So in just one committee meeting we have the Senator from California declaring that she believes it is legal to hunt humans in the United States, indicating that “brave bystanders” violate her laws concerning “Gun Free Zones,” sought to have firearms removed from veterans who fought to defend the Constitution and the country, and seeks to correct the men of our Special Forces units, who deal with all sorts of weapons every day of their lives.

Perhaps Ms. Feinstein made a Freudian slip and is giving us indication that, instead of the Obama administration’s use of a weaponized drone to carry out strikes on Americans, what is really meant is that it will become legal for them to hunt us down with guns, which is not all that far fetched seeing that the Department of Homeland Security are stockpiling ammunition and requesting 7,000 fully automatic weapons to be used on the domestic front.

Truly this is one arrogant woman! Yes, I could use another word to describe her, but I’ll refrain. The point is she is a traitor to this country many times over. With every vote she has cast and with support she has given to restrict both the keeping and bearing of arms, she demonstrates the need for people to not only speak out against her treason, but demand she be held accountable for it.

Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 9:21pm: House Majority Whip: We Can Pass Gun Control & Immigration Without Republican Support Read more: http://free

For anyone paying attention in the Republican Party, you should be outraged at the alleged “leadership” in the House. John Boehner’s leadership has been questionable for some time now. Somehow he survived and was re-elected to Speaker of the 113^th Congress. But there is rebellion brewing against him. Now The GOP leadership is reaching across the aisle to Democrats for support in light of 16 House Republicans who are set to vote against a Republican leadership-crafted closed rule on a government funding bill. However, what should be alarming is that the House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy said he is open to ramming through bills on issues like gun control and immigration without the support of his Republican colleagues.

The rule in question was to limit amendments to the government funding bill. However, because Boehner and his posse refused to consider a vote on the amendment that would defund Obamacare, conservatives bucked Boehner on his rule.

“I think that is something being discussed on a case by case basis,” said Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), one of the 16 no votes on the rule.

Republicans can afford to lose 15 to 17 votes on the rule.

The Hill reports,

Several conservatives switched their positions on the rule under pressure from interest groups that on Wednesday morning announced they intended to score votes on the rule.

Freedom Works, for example, was livid that GOP leaders refused to allow a floor vote on an amendment to defund the implementation of President Obama’s healthcare law.

The conservative group sent out an action alert to its members on Wednesday under the heading “Demand Boehner Defund Obamacare.”

Several of the seven lawmakers who supported passage of the bill but opposed the rule vote cited the Obamacare exclusion in explaining their votes.

“Rep. (John) Fleming (R-LA) believes, as he stated in a letter to leadership last week, that the CR [continuing resolution] was a prime opportunity to move conscience legislation that would restore protections stripped away by Obamacare,” Fleming spokesman Doug Sachtleben said.

“The closed rule, that he opposed, served as a barrier to amending the CR with that important legislation,” Sachtleben added.

Along with Fleming and Huelskamp, and Reps. Steve Pearce (R-NM), Mo Brooks (AL), Walter Jones (NC), Dana Rohrabacher (CA) and Ted Yoho (FL) voted against the rule but for the funding bill.

In another report by The Hill that dealt with statements by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA):

Asked on CNN Sunday if more breaches of the Hastert rule on topics including gun control and immigration reform are possible if bills come over from the Senate, McCarthy didn’t answer the question directly, pointing to Boehner’s comments earlier in the week.

“The speaker says he wants to, if you listen to his press conference the other day, he will pass bills that the House passes,” said McCarthy on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “He’ll pass bills that the Republicans are moving forward.”

The House in recent months broke the Hastert rule three times in passing bills to avoid the “fiscal cliff” by raising tax rates on some earners, Hurricane Sandy relief, and the Violence Against Women Act.

McCarthy believes that “It is better if the House does their work. We should be sending bills to the Senate.”

McCarthy went on to say, “I would not underestimate the House’s ability to pass an immigration bill. I think we have plenty of ideas on that and I think that we can move the ball as well.”

CNN’s Candy Crowley pointed out that McCarthy would not give her a straight answer on whether he would uphold the Hastert rule.

Boehner continues to face criticism of passing Democrat-backed legislation and he has never endorsed the Hastert rule, saying that he would only bring bills to the floor that were backed by a “majority of the majority.”

Ben Shapiro remarks, “This is a declaration of war within the Republican ranks. And it should be deeply troubling to Republicans across the country, watching as the recently and controversially reminted House leadership continues to pursue the same political philosophy that led to a mini-rebellion in the House in January.”

There’s trouble brewing for House leadership and it’s a good thing to call them out and hold them accountable to what they are there to do. This took place back in January, but House leadership was stubborn and didn’t listen and look where that got us? More taxes. It’s good that these representatives are standing up against a weak and spineless leadership that just wants to be led by the nose by the Democrats and the Obama administration. After all, one has to ask whose side those in leadership in the House are on.

Read more: http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/03/house-gop-leaders-well-pass-gun-c...

Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 7:57pm: Al Gore Calls The NRA ‘A Complete Fraud’, But Al-Jazeera Is ‘High-Q...

10 Mar 2013

Photo Credit: SXSW.com

Austin, Texas is playing host to stars in the worlds of film, music, technology and politics as the annual South By Southwest Conferences (SXSW) kicked off this weekend. Saturday’s keynote speech featured former Vice President Al Gore and Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal. The official title of the event was “Al Gore on The Future.” Coincidentally, “The Future” is also the title of Gore’s latest book. (currently ranked #326 on Amazon.com).

In the well attended session, Gore actually stayed true to his recycling mantra and actually revisited a theme from 2012′s keynote session with Sean Parker. In that session, Gore was talking about the risks to American democracy and told Parker and the crowd, “Our democracy has been hijacked.”

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon, March 8, 2013. Gore and Mossberg on the stage in front of a full house at the Austin Convention Center. Mr. Gore told the crowd, “Our country is in very serious trouble. But that does not mean I am optimistic.” Then the former Vice President shifted focused to the topic of money and politics and trotted out last year’s catchphrase, “Our democracy has been hijacked.”

Watch video here:

http://nowth.is/10wpAzl

Read more from this story HERE.

Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 7:49pm: Palin to Conservatives: Influence Culture, Sports; Cling to God, Guns, Constitution

by Tony Lee 9 Mar 2013

At a leadership forum at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida on Friday, Sarah Palin told conservatives to influence the culture by impacting sports and continue to cling to God, guns, and the Constitution.
Sports has often always been upstream from culture and, as Andrew Breitbart always said, culture has been upstream from politics.

According to NewsChief.com, Palin encouraged conservatives to "infiltrate" the culture and study journalism while going into Hollywood and the sports world.
"Get out there and influence culture," she said. "The future of the country depends on what you do."

She also asked the next generation to help change the country's moral fiber because "our foundation will crumble if we choose to ignore it,"

"Cling to your God, your guns, your Constitution!" Palin said. "God deserves so much better than what we give him ... What has happened when we can't say his name in public?"

She hammered the crony capitalism in Washington D.C., referring to Washington as a "hotbed of cronyism" and calling the federal government "bloated, corrupt, and out-of-control." Palin injected "crony capitalism" into the political bloodstream with her speech in Indianola, Iowa in 2011 and at her maiden appearance at CPAC in 2012.

Palin has always been fluent in popular culture and sports.

Last season, when Jeremy Lin, an Evangelical American-born basketball player of Asian descent, took the NBA--and nation--by storm in what was dubbed "Linsanity," Palin went to New York and bought his Knicks jersey. She praised him as an "all-American" and meritocratic success story to various outlets. Her words cut through the culture and reached Asian-Americans who do not pay attention to politics, who commented favorably about Palin during the height of Linsanity. Lin's success was culturally to Americans of Asian descent what Fernando Valenzuela's emergence with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1980s ("Fernandomania") was to Americans of Mexican descent.

President Barack Obama, another person, for all his faults, who gets the importance of culture, also praised Lin on Air Force One last year. But Republican politicians not named Palin were too busy poll-testing whether commenting on Lin would benefit them.

It is worth noting that in 2012 presidential election, a greater percentage of Asian-Americans somehow voted for Obama than Hispanics. Much of that represented a failure on behalf of the careful, timid, and cautious Republican establishment who neither get nor know how to c... like Palin has so successfully done since she became the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee.

Palin was also ahead of the curve in praising Tim Tebow when he was with the Denver Broncos and, most recently, was watching the Daytona 500 and publicly tweeting her support for Danica Patrick during the final laps of the race. Patrick became the first woman to win a pole at a NASCAR race and one of the few drivers, along with legends like A.J. Foyt and Tony Stewart, to ever to lead laps in the both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, racing's two signature events.

As an athlete who runs a faster marathon--after having had four children (Palin ran the marathon before she had her fifth child)--than male Republican jocks like Paul Ryan and someone who has been a sportscaster, Palin--perhaps more than any other Republican politician--has always gotten the importance of sports in shaping the broader culture.

Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 7:45pm: UPDATE: Number Of U.S. Gun Makers Refusing Sales To Gov’t In ‘Firea...

“caveman chuck” coker

On February 22, “Right Views” reported that a growing number of firearm companies have suspended the sale of guns to states, counties, cities and municipalities that restrict their citizens’ rights to own them.

In just two weeks, the number of companies participating in what has been named the “Firearms Equality Movement,” has more than tripled from 34 companies to 118.

The Police Loophole lists every company and links to the statements that each has released regarding their new policies.

Wilson Combat, a custom pistol manufacturer located in Berryville, Arkansas, joined the movement on February 28 stating the following:

“Wilson Combat will no longer provide any products or services to any State Government imposing legislation that infringes on the second amendment rights of its law abiding citizens. This includes any Law Enforcement Department, Law Enforcement Officers, or any State Government Entity or Employee of such an entity. This also applies to any local municipality imposing such infringements.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 7:44pm: Line at Gun Show is a Mile Long in San Diego (Del Mar) 3-9-2013

Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 7:11pm

Here’s What Happened With Colorado’s Gun Bills Last Night (Including the ‘Shotgun Ban’)

Mar. 9, 2013 8:33am Madeleine Morgenstern

Colorado Sen. Lois Tochtrop (D), left, listens as Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R), right, speaks at the podium during a debate period on a day of voting on gun control bills before the Colorado Legislature at the State Capitol in Denver, Friday March 8, 2013. Colorado Democrats advanced multiple gun control proposals Friday in a state balancing a history of heartbreaking shootings with a Western heritage where gun ownership is treasured by many. (AP)

QUICK LOOK:

• Online gun certification: Senate Bill 195, banning online certification for concealed carry permits and requiring people to attend classes in person — advances in Senate

• Liability for “assault”-style weapons: Senate Bill 196, holding manufacturers and sellers of semiautomatic weapons liable for violence committed with them — killed by sponsor

• Gun ban for domestic abusers: Senate Bill 197, banning certain domestic violence abusers from owning guns — advances in Senate

• Limits on high-capacity ammunition: House Bill 1224, limiting gun ammunition magazines to 15 rounds but amended to not outlaw the “standard shotgun” — advances in Senate

• Gun ban on college campuses: House Bill 1226, banning concealed weapons on college campuses — killed by sponsor

• Background check fee: House Bill 1228, requiring gun buyers to pay for their own background checks — advances in Senate

• Universal background checks: House Bill 1229, requiring background checks for all gun transfers, including private sales — advances in Senate

[via the Denver Post]

DENVER (TheBlaze/AP) — Lawmakers advanced Colorado’s strictest gun proposals in recent memory, during marathon debate in a state caught between a history of horrific shootings and a Western heritage where gun ownership is a daily part of life for many.

Friday’s action came with the state viewed as a bellwether of how far politically moderate states are willing to go with new gun laws in the wake of mass shootings in a suburban Denver movie theater and a Connecticut elementary school. It’s also playing out in a state that was the scene of one of the nation’s most high-profile school massacres – the 1999 Columbine High School shootings.

Already the White House has weighed in, with Vice President Joe Biden phoning four lawmakers while on a recent ski vacation here to nudge the Democrats during their first major gun debate last month.

Protesters gather in front of the Capitol in Denver where State Senators are debating seven control bills on Friday, March 8, 2013. (AP)

“The eyes of the entire nation are upon us. What we do here today matters to everybody,” Republican Sen. Greg Brophy said Friday. Brophy represents a rural district in Colorado’s eastern plains.

Senate Democrats advanced Colorado’s strictest gun measures in years after a 12-hour debate – but not every proposal survived.

Democrats moved forward with universal background checks to include gun purchases between private parties and sales conducted online. And they advanced a bill limiting ammunition magazines to 15 rounds, after lawmakers passed an amendment increasing the amount of shotgun shells that shotgun magazines could hold — addressing outrage that the measure would have essentially banned shotguns. A gun ban for people accused of domestic violence also got initial approval.

But Democrats withdrew two of the most controversial pieces – a gun ban on college campuses and a measure to hold assault-weapon owners liable for damages caused by their weapons. At least three Democrats were planning to side with the GOP, a margin big enough to defeat those measures.

Democratic Senate President John Morse claimed victory in the state’s overall gun-control debate, even as he conceded the battle grew ugly.

“Cleansing a sickness from our souls doesn’t come easy. It’s gruesome,” Morse said in a short speech announcing the withdrawal of his assault-weapon liability measure.

Opponents of proposed gun control bills being considered by the Colorado Legislature holds signs to those passing in cars in front of the State Capitol, in Denver, Monday March 4, 2013. (AP)

Morse’s comments punctuated a nasty, drawn-out debate that drew thousands to the state Capitol over recent days.

Some Democrats have reported getting threatening emails and phone calls. One man is facing criminal charges for aggressive messages he allegedly sent a Democratic sponsor of some of the bills.

Lobbying has also been intense. A suburban gun accessory maker that has threatened to leave the state if the magazine limit passes sent company executives to lobby wavering Democrats on that measure.

Republicans in the Senate took turns criticizing the gun bills Friday, while Democrats rarely spoke.

The bills expanding background checks and the magazine limits have already cleared the House. But the proposals still face a final Senate vote next week, when Republicans are expected to continue making a stand. Republicans took to Twitter immediately after debate concluded late Friday to urge changed votes by Monday.

Republicans argued that the bills wouldn’t reduce gun violence and that mental health treatment should be expanded instead.

“We can make as many laws as we want. Until we change the hearts of man, they’re going to continue to do evil things,” said Republican Sen. Scott Renfroe.

Democrats insisted the measures don’t compromise Colorado’s gun-loving heritage.

“I’m a gun owner, and I have been since I was 12 years old,” said Democratic Sen. Mike Johnston of Denver. “What is before us is not a constitutional question but a policy question.”

In all, lawmakers went through seven firearms bills Fridays while philosophical barbs about gun rights peppered the debate.

“This is a day of dysfunctionalism,” griped Republican Sen. Steve King of Grand Junction.

Democrats frequently cited the Connecticut school shooting and the Colorado theater shooting as they argued the limits are needed.

Arguing for the magazine ammunition limits, Democratic Sen. Mary Hodge said the change to Colorado’s heritage and the potential inconveniences on gun owners paled in comparison to the pain of gun violence.

“This bill is merely an attempt to reduce the slaughter,” Hodge said.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper has said he would sign into law a magazine limit and a background-check expansion.

Talking to a group of high school journalists Thursday, Hickenlooper said he’s keeping his options open.

“I’m not in any way an anti-gun person,” the governor said.

–

Related:

Comment by Gordon Ray Kissinger on March 10, 2013 at 7:08pm

Colorado Sheriff Says Dems Are Using Salary Threats to Pressure Sheriffs to Support Gun Control Bills

Mar. 10, 2013 10:08am Mike Opelka

One Colorado sheriff is claiming that Democrats are pressuring pro-gun sheriffs in the state with tactics he think border on extortion.

In a radio interview with KVOR on Saturday, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said he received an email last week with a threat to stop or stall pay raises to the state’s elected sheriffs if they don’t support Colorado’s pending gun control legislation.

Colorado Dems Allegedly Using Pay Raises To Coerce Sheriffs To Support Gun Control Law

Image: CSOC.org

The email, sent from the offices of the County Sheriffs of Colorado, “basically said, Dem. leadership is very upset with the sheriffs and their opposition to the gun control bills,” Maketa said.

He claimed it said the Democrats were threatening to delay legislation that would give the sheriffs a long-delayed pay raise if they continue to speak out against the new push for more gun control laws.

Image: YouTube

In the radio interview, Maketa strongly suggested that the pressure being placed on sheriffs organization bordered on extortion and should be investigated.

Maketa said some sheriffs in the organization were suggesting they compromise and support one proposed bill that would remove firearms and ammunition from people accused of domestic violence before ever being convicted of a crime.

“They’re infringing on your Fourth Amendment rights and Fifth Amendment rights,” Maketa said.

He quoted statistics saying firearms were used in less than 2 percent of crimes reported in his state. Maketa also said that if guns are confiscated, blunt objects and instruments like knives and scissors should be as well, since they are used in domestic violence cases more often than guns.

Hear Maketa’s full interview 18-minute interview with KVOR’s Jeff Crank below. (The issue of the alleged coercion starts around the 6:30 mark.)

After the interview, Maketa took to his Facebook page to clarify that the email did not come directly from Colorado Democrats:

I want to make something very clear; I have not been directly threatened or coerced in any way nor would I tolerate any threat. A message delivered verbally to a representative of the Colorado Sheriff’s Association basically stated that the Senate Dems are very upset with the Colorado Sheriffs opposing the gun legislation proposed by the Senate Democrats. This message insinuated that this could negatively affect the salary bill which has been delayed and put off by the Democrats with the excuse that they would expect bipartisan support. I do believe the salary proposal is being held hostage and I believe that if they’re willing to send gun control measures without bipartisan support then they should be willing to take a stand as the majority leadership and follow a democrat-created commission’s recommendations.

It’s been seven years since the sheriffs have had a salary increase. Maketa’s post continued:

This inaction, and other vague insinuations, I take as quid pro quo. They are holding the salary of sheriffs hostage to gain compliance with gun control matters. I assure you that there is not a legislator on the dems’ side of the isle that will take ownership of this injustice, nor will they know where it came from, but their inaction will speak volumes. This salary proposal or recommendation has no bearing on me personally as it does not affect me since I am term limited.

Maketa did not immediately return a request for comment from TheBlaze.

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