April 15, 2024 03:21 PM UTC

Rep. Don Wilson Opts In To Leg Gun Ban Voluntarily--Will He Still Vote Against It?

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• by: Colorado Pols

Revisiting last week’s story of yet another Republican Colorado lawmaker mislaying his personal firearm unattended at the state capitol building, this time Rep. Don Wilson who took off his Glock in the restroom doing the Lord’s business and forgot to put it on again, one interesting footnote from that embarrassing episode that may turn relevant once again–as Marianne Goodland reported for the Colorado Springs Gazette’s political blog:

“As a responsible firearm owner, it’s frustrating and disappointing to continually see colleagues make mistakes with their guns,” added Majority Leader Monica Duran of Wheat Ridge, who has spoken at length about being a gun owner…

“Everyone who carries a firearm must do so with the utmost care at all times, which is why it is so important to me that people receive proper training and observe it and that we strengthen the requirements for a concealed carry permit,” Duran said. “I’ve expressed my deepest concerns to Rep. Wilson and Minority Leadership. It’s my expectation that he follows through with his commitment not to carry his firearm at the Capitol.” [Pols emphasis]

Rep. Don Wilson’s “voluntary” decision last week to stop bringing a gun inside the state capitol building, where the public is not allowed to carry concealed weapons and armed Colorado State Patrol officers control access with metal detectors, is noteworthy due to the passage in the Colorado Senate of Senate Bill 24-131, legislation that would ban lawmakers from bringing guns into the building along with a winnowed-down number of other “sensitive spaces.” The bill is set to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, after which Rep. Wilson will have the opportunity to call for all lawmakers to join him in the sensible decision to not carry guns inside an already-secure building.

Or, as the case may be, not.

Obviously, if Rep. Wilson votes against this bill codifying the decision he made after leaving his loaded weapon for who knows might have found it had custodians not found it first, he’s going to need to explain how his own experience informed that decision. Wilson could surprise us and do the honorable thing by voting for a bill he has demonstrated a lack of competency to criticize, but then Wilson would have to endure the withering assault on his manhood from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and fellow Republicans that would be sure to follow. The “beta cuck” who helped Democrats take legislators’ guns.

The problem is, Rep. Wilson already did that. By example. Don Wilson is the latest and possibly decisive poster child for keeping guns out of the Colorado Capitol.