‘Constitutional carry’ bill voted down in Colorado House

A bill that would have eliminated training requirements and permits for concealed carry of firearms was defeated by the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee March 7 by a 5-4 vote.Senate Bill 16-017 was sponsored by state Sen. Tim Neville — a Republican from south Jefferson County who recently announced a bid for the U.S. Senate — and his son, state Rep. Patrick Neville, a Castle Rock Republican.”If more guns made us safer, we would be the safest country on Earth,” Colorado resident Dawn Reinfeld testified before the bill was defeated, according to a news release by the House Democrats.The bill was one of five gun-related measures sponsored by Republicans defeated on the party-line 5-4 vote in the House March 7.”These bills would have protected the rights of Coloradans to defend their property and loved ones,” state Rep. Perry Buck, R-Windsor, said in a news release. “I am upset that Democrats do not consider upholding the Constitution a priority.”House Bill 16-1204 — also sponsored by Patrick Neville — would have allowed concealed carry of guns in Colorado public schools.The other three bills:• HB 16-1023 would have extended the right to use deadly force against an intruder under certain conditions to include owners, managers and employees of businesses.• HB16-1179 would have exempted all active-duty military members from concealed-carry laws.• HB16-1024 would have repealed a restriction on the transfer of high-capacity ammunition magazines.