June 07, 2010 09:19 PM UTC

Maes supports Vermont style "no permit" gun carry

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• by: allyncooper

( – promoted by Middle of the Road)

I received an email from the Maes campaign today in which he did some “esplaining” to assuage the fears of his natural constituents, the red meat gun toten conservatives.

As Dan explains, he was sent a questionnaire from the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners asking his stands on various gun positions. For those not aware of what RMGO is, it is an organization of gun owners and second amendment advocates that was formed because they contended the NRA was too timid in defending gun “rights”. So think NRA types on steroids, the perfect Tea Party profile.

In his mea culpa, Dan says he filled out the questionnaire while pressed for time and put down a “no” for supporting a Vermont style conceal carry law, and a “no” for repeal of the Brady law. Brady needs no explanation, but the Vermont style conceal carry law really isn’t a law at all, because in Vermont there are no restrictions on concealed handgun carry…no background check, no firearms training requirement, no permitting, in fact no regulations of any kind on who can carry a concealed weapon.

Predictably, the shit hit the fan when these responses were publicized to RMGO members and the public, with Maes subsequently backtracking from his “no” response on the Vermont style carry law after he was vilified for his responses ( his email doesn’t say anything about Brady, apparently the less said about that the better).

Maes now says:

If the people of Colorado want a Vermont style conceal carry law and the repeal of the current background check law, and the legislature places them on my desk for signature, I will sign them.  

Maes gingerly addresses the issue by saying if the people want a Vermont style concealed weapons law, he won’t stand in their way. And Dan’s campaign has always been about putting the people first, right?

Of course the people demanding a Vermont style law is about as likely to happen as the people electing Maes governor, so perhaps this guys onto something.

Colorado has a concealed weapons permitting system that is working well. It protects the second amendment rights of law abiding gun owners who choose to carry while at the same time promoting public safety by requiring background checks, weapons training certification, and necessary and proper regulations and restrictions on concealed weapon carry. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Maes’ pandering to his red meat base is of course necessary to his campaign, but his disingenuous flip flop on the issue is revealing more of Maes the politician and less the “principled conservative” as he comes under greater scrutiny.