February 25, 2013 06:28 PM UTC

Man Arrested for Threats Against Rep. Rhonda Fields

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #2: More on Franklin Sain's alleged messages to Rep. Rhonda Fields from 9NEWS:

The following is one of seven emails police say Sain sent to Fields:

"THANKS N—– C—! You really think passing nay more laws will stop gun violence? You and that other N—– OBAMA are living in fantasy land. Chicago and DC have the most strict gun laws in the nation and more people die from gun violence than anywhere. You f—ing c—s are pathetic excuse for civil servants. Hell, n—–s love shooting themselves with GATS, isn't that what your people call it. What you have done here is creater [sic] criminals out of law abiding citizens, and put yourself out of a job. You politicians have no idea what you are even doing anyway, do you know how long it takes some to change a magazine, less than a second, so what if some with experience decides to flip out and bring their gun in with 5 or so 10 round magazines, they can do the same amount of damage. Limiting magazine sizes is stupididty, and will not work…"

UPDATE: The Denver Post's Sadie Gurman reports some details from the threats sent to Rep. Rhonda Fields:

Sain admitted sending Fields profanity-laced e-mails and leaving her similar voicemails. Denver police also believe he sent an unsigned, threatening letter that said: "I keep my 30 Round Magazines There Will Be Blood! I'm Coming For You!," according to an affidavit supporting his arrest.

The letter also mentioned Fields' daughter and said: "Death to Both."

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The gun violence debate at the State Legislature has taken another ugly turn. From Fox 31:

Police have arrested a man accused of making a death threat against state Rep. Rhonda Fields, the sponsor of two controversial gun control legislation measures at the Capitol, FOX31 Denver is first to report.

Franklin Sain, 42, a Colorado Springs resident, was arrested Friday for allegedly sending harassing voice mails and emails to Fields, said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson…

…Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrisey will ultimately decide whether to file felony charges against Sain, who has already bonded out of jail. The application filed for Sain’s arrest warrant ties him to six e-mails, one voicemail and one paper letter sent to Fields. The communications are riddled with foul language, spelling errors and racial epithets.

“I guarantee there is not enough law enforcement or military to stop an all-out overthrow of this government if you or that n—– president tries to take our guns,” one e-mail dated Feb. 13 reads. “Guarantee we will make World War I and II look like child’s play, many will die. Be prepared.”

Another e-mail expresses hope that someone would “Giffords” both Fields and Rep. Beth McCann, a reference to the 2011 mass shooting that nearly killed Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords.

Rep. Fields has been a leading voice on legislative efforts to curb gun violence. Her son was shot to death in 2005 by gang members to prevent him from testifying in another criminal case.

This is a sad story all around, and perplexing when it comes to the motives. Issuing death threats to someone because you don't agree with them on measures to curb gun violence is an odd approach to say the least. In fact, this is the kind of thing that can actually do more to attract legislative support for gun violence measures.