By Greeley Tribune - 3/18/2013
Weld County Sheriff John Cooke said he won't enforce either gun-control measure waiting to be signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper, saying the laws are "unenforceable" and would "give a false sense of security."
One bill passed Friday would expand requirements to have background checks for firearm purchases. Hickenlooper is expected to sign it into law within two weeks.
Earlier this week, Colorado lawmakers approved a 15-round limit on ammunition magazines. It also is awaiting the expected approval of the governor.
Cooke said Democratic lawmakers are uninformed but are scrambling in reaction to recent tragedies in the nation.
"They're feel-good, knee-jerk reactions that are unenforceable," he said.
Cooke said the bill requiring a $10 background check to legally transfer a gun would not keep firearms out of the hands of those who use them for violence.
"Criminals are still going to get their guns," he said.
Cooke said the other bill would also technically ban all magazines because of a provision that outlaws any magazine that can be altered. He said all magazines can be altered to a higher capacity.
Cooke said he, like other county sheriffs, "won't bother enforcing" the laws because it will be impossible for them to keep track of how the requirements are being met by gun owners. He said he and other sheriffs are considering a lawsuit against the state to block the measures if they are signed into law.
The vice president praised passage of the background check bill.
"Congrats to Colorado House and Senate for passing universal background checks," read a tweet sent by the office of Vice President Joe Biden from his official @VP account.
It was followed by another tweet referring to the theater shooting that read, "The families of Aurora deserved a vote and got one. Now U.S. Congress must act too."
Congress also is considering a number of new firearm restrictions.
Colorado is the first state outside the East Coast to significantly ratchet back gun rights after the theater and school shootings. Colorado's gun debate was being watched closely because it's considered a swing state with both a gun-loving frontier past and an unfortunate history of mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School attack.
"Are we going to stop all criminals from getting guns? No," said Democratic Rep. Beth McCann, a sponsor of the background checks bill. "But are we are going to put a barrier there, make it more difficult for them? Yes."
The move to expand background checks would be one of the most sweeping responses by Colorado to the shootings last year in Aurora and at the elementary school in Newtown, Conn.
In Colorado, expanded checks have been a top priority for Hickenlooper, who called for the proposal during his State of the State address in January.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(c)2013 Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.)
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