February 08, 2011 07:59 PM UTC

The Everybody Pack Heat Everywhere Bill, Anyone?

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• by: Colorado Pols

We’re surprised that this bill from Rep. Chris Holbert hasn’t gotten more attention, beyond this report from the Denver Daily News’ Peter Marcus:

Written in partnership with pro-gun group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, House Bill 1205 is being sponsored by freshman Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker. It would make it optional to carry a concealed-carry permit…

The freshman representative’s bill could be viewed as controversial as the nation discusses stricter gun control laws following the deadly massacre in Tucson, Ariz., that took the life of a 9-year-old girl and a federal judge and wounded a congresswoman.

The Colorado Ceasefire Capitol Fund has opposed similar legislation in the past.

The group’s spokesman, Tom Mauser, said: “Arizona already has a similar law allowing  concealed carry by any law abiding citizen without need for a permit. That law would have allowed the Tucson shooter to carry a concealed weapon. Despite all the warning signs shown by the killer, he could not have been prevented from carrying a concealed weapon. Coloradans do not wish to adopt such a reckless public policy, especially when there has been nothing shown as to why the current CCW system is not working.”

Dudley Brown, spokesman for Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, said the issue is about leveling the playing field when it comes to protection. He would like to see people be able to carry concealed most places in the state, including grade schools.

So, we pretty much have to start all such posts with a reminder that we, like most residents of Western states in both parties, are quite, um, liberal in terms of gun laws, and recognizant of the higher test regulation of firearms must pass in a state like Colorado as opposed to, say, New York. Usually our commentary on gun control issues consists of lampooning a silly right wing bill that presupposes some kind of conspiracist New World Order gun confiscation regime just over the horizon (see: Brown, Rep. R. Paul, or Brophy, Sen. Greg).

But once you get away from the hardcores at the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the limited number of Republican officials in their thrall, you’re really not going to find much support for letting everybody who can legally own a gun carry one concealed without a permit. In fact, that lurches so far from one extreme to the other, and sounds crazy enough once explained, that we think it could prove quite embarrassing to the GOP–especially in the context of recent events.