Translate

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

54 COLORADO SHERIFFS SUE STATE TO OVERTURN GUN CONTROL LAWS AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL



Published on May 18, 2013 by VideoNewsPortal on YouTube. Text below video in full:
Colorado sheriffs upset with gun restrictions adopted in the aftermath of last year's mass shootings filed a federal lawsuit Friday, challenging the regulations as unconstitutional.

The lawsuit involves sheriffs from 54 of Colorado's 64 counties, most representing rural, gun-friendly areas of the state.

The sheriffs say the new state laws violate Second Amendment protections that guarantee the right to keep and bear arms. Opponents are criticizing the lawsuit as political maneuvering.

The filing targets Colorado laws that limit the size of ammunition magazines and expand background checks. The regulations passed the Legislature this spring and are set to take effect July 1.

It isn't yet clear whether the sheriffs' challenge will delay or jeopardize the laws. The filing, however, guarantees the renewal of a fierce debate over gun control.

Colorado lawmakers passed the restrictions in reaction to the shooting rampage at a suburban Denver movie theater last summer, where 12 people were killed and dozens more were wounded, and the massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

The gun control debate was one of the most emotionally charged of the legislative session, with lengthy debates and national attention. President Barack Obama added to the attention on the Colorado Statehouse, as his administration unsuccessfully pushed Congress to enact similar gun controls.

Sheriffs' attorneys are considering whether to ask the court for a preliminary injunction, which would block the Colorado laws while the lawsuit moves forward.

The law enforcement community is divided on the issue. In contrast to the sheriffs, the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, which includes urban departments, supports the laws. The chiefs said the measures were "common-sense approaches" to protect the public "while not taking guns from law-abiding citizens in any way."

Unlike sheriffs, police chiefs are not elected.

Democrats maintain the public is on their side, and say legislators carefully crafted the proposals that were signed.

"These laws were not constructed haphazardly," said Democratic Sen. Mary Hodge, the sponsor of the magazine limit. "They were constructed to protect us from massacres like the ones we suffered in Aurora and Newtown."

Relatives of victims of the Colorado shooting criticized the sheriffs for filing the lawsuit and accused them of playing politics.

"As a parent who lost my son Alex at the Aurora theater shooting, I ask these people to put themselves in my place," Tom Sullivan said in a statement. "I do not understand why these politicians are picking guns over people."

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke said he and his colleagues were "not the ones playing politics with this."

"We believe that the Legislature were the ones who were playing politics," he said.

Gun control opponents say the language in the regulations is unclear and doesn't provide safeguards to prevent people from inadvertently breaking the laws.

Ammunition magazines, for example, are easily converted to larger sizes, which the bill bans. Gun rights advocates also say the law expanding background checks doesn't provide enough exemptions for temporary transfers and that people conducting private transactions will have a difficult time getting appropriate checks.

Lawmakers allowed several exemptions in the background check legislation, including transfers between immediate family members, shooting events and temporary transfers of up to 72 hours.

State officials, including Attorney General John Suthers, have worked to defend the intent of the laws. Suthers, a Republican responsible for defending the law against the legal challenge, issued a statement Friday giving guidance to law enforcement on how the magazine limit should be enforced.

He said magazine features "must be judged objectively" and that magazines that hold 15 rounds or fewer can't be defined as "large capacity" simply because it can be modified to include more.

The state has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit.

AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION REQUEST ABOUT IRS HARASSMENT OF CHRISTIANS


American Family Association   Take Action Now

Share on FacebookShare on Facebook   Share on TwitterShare on Twitter   Online VersionOnline Version

Urge Congress to punish those responsible for IRS harassment

May 20, 2013

Dear ##FirstName[AFA Supporter]##,

As most Americans are aware by now, under the Obama administration up to 500 Tea Party, educational, Christian and pro-life groups have been targeted by the IRS since 2009. Their requests for tax exempt status have been delayed, blocked, frustrated and denied.
Additionally, tax audits were launched against donors to the campaign of President Obama’s presidential opponent. In other cases confidential IRS information about Obama’s opponents may have been leaked to the press and to others. Such violations are punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
This obstruction has hindered the ability of conservative groups to inform and educate the American people on matters of paramount importance, and may have had a material effect on the 2012 presidential election.
In contrast, IRS officials have been unable to name even a single “progressive” group that received such withering scrutiny. This viewpoint discrimination blatantly violates First Amendment protections of freedom of religion and speech and may well be criminal.
Some specific and egregious examples of government harassment and intimidation:
  • Dr. James Dobson was told the application for Family Talk Action would not be approved because he had “criticized President Obama,” and the organization was deemed to be a “partisan right-wing group.”

  • The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was harassed shortly after running ads supporting natural marriage. The organization had to spend an exorbitant amount of time and funds “servicing IRS agents in our offices” over the issue.

  • The Coalition for Life in Iowa was ordered to divulge to the IRS the content of their prayers, according to Rep. Aaron Schock, and to detail “the activities at...prayer meetings” as well as to “provide the percentage of time your organizations spends on prayer groups.” The acting IRS commissioner refused to say such questions were inappropriate.
Hearings into this egregious and inexcusable IRS misconduct will be held this week in both the Senate and the House.
TAKE ACTION
Urge your congressmen today to thoroughly investigate IRS misconduct, identify those responsible, and press to see that they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Take Action NowWe have a prepared letter ready for you. Send it now!

It is very important that you forward this alert to your friends and family members.

Sincerely,

Tim

Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association
Help us Financially
Donate Online to AFA
One-TimeMonthly
Text the letters
"AFA" to 20222
to give $10

Standard messaging rates may apply.
Spiritual Heritage Tours
Experience Washington, DC and Mount Vernon from a Christian perspective.

More Information
P.S. Follow @AFAActionAlert on Twitter.
Action Link
* http://cqrcengage.com/afanet/app/take-action?engagementId=7507