Date: 04/13/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-086

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Postpone Senate Bill 15-086 indefinitely. The moti
Refer Senate Bill 15-086 to the Committee on Finan		PASS
FAIL



01:33 PM -- SB15-086

Representative Joshi, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-086. This bill removes the requirement that anyone who is not a licensed gun dealer require a criminal background check and approval of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in order to transfer a firearm to another person. It also repeals the requirement that the CBI impose a fee for conducting an instant criminal background check for the transfer of a firearm.

The committee discussed the bill's fiscal note.

01:40 PM -- James Bardwell, representing Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bardwell explained that the state used to cover the cost of background checks and expressed his opinion that it should do so again. He discussed the constitutional right to gun ownership. He responded to questions from the committee about background checks.

01:48 PM -- Ron Sloan, representing CBI, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sloan discussed the public safety benefits of background checks. He provided information about background checks conducted in the past year. He talked about approvals and denials. He talked about the fee reduction from $10 to $7 for background checks. He responded to questions from the committee about the offenses for which individuals are denied permission for a gun transfer. He discussed background check transaction time. He also stated the CBI's opposition to House Bill 15-1138. He responded to questions about concealed carry permit background checks.

02:00 PM -- Rick Calhoun, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Calhoun discussed popular opposition to background checks for gun transfers due to unintended consequences. He expressed disagreement with studies cited by many gun control advocates.

02:03 PM -- Ted Alcorn, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Alcorn provided statistics about background checks, broken down by where the background checks were initiated. He spoke about gun owner behavior since 2013. He responded to questions from the committee about gun deaths in Missouri after the state repealed its background check requirement.

02:10 PM -- Cliff Anderson, representing Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Anderson responded to questions from the committee about the number of individuals with a criminal history who acquire guns through illegal means.

02:13 PM -- Jane Dougherty, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Dougherty spoke about her sister's death at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She asked whether her sister's right to life should have been superseded by another's right to gun ownership.

02:17 PM -- Ryan Stitt, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Stitt stated that elected officials are responsible for protecting constitutional rights. He discussed partisan politics.

02:20 PM -- Tom Sullivan, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sullivan spoke about his son's death in the Aurora theater shooting.

02:22 PM -- James Mapes, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Mapes discussed whether the cost of background checks was borne by individuals purchasing fishing and hunting permits at some point in the past.

02:24 PM -- Don Macalady, representing Hunters Against Gun Violence, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Macalady spoke about constitutional rights and the ability of the state to limit those rights in the interest of public safety.

02:29 PM -- Ronald Dietz, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Dietz expressed his opinion that criminals do not get background checks.

02:31 PM -- Josie Brady, representing Generation Progress, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Brady provided statistics about background checks and gun violence.

02:34 PM -- Robert Edmiston, representing the Firearms Coalition of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Edmiston distributed a packet of research on gun laws (Attachment A). He referred to the information in the packet. He responded to questions about the data.

15HouseState0413AttachA.pdf15HouseState0413AttachA.pdf

02:41 PM -- Brooke Squires, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Squires spoke about her direct and indirect personal experience with gun violence. She discussed the effectiveness of background checks.

02:44 PM -- James Winchester, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Winchester raised concerns with the way the law concerning background checks is being administered. He discussed the time it takes for a background check to be processed. He discussed his problem with the issue of records retention.

02:50 PM -- Jean Grattet, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Grattet reiterated the testimony of Mr. Alcorn. She responded to questions from the committee about the statistics she provided.

02:55 PM -- David Gunn, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Gunn spoke about his gun-related inventions.

03:00 PM -- Marilyn Hughes, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Hughes spoke about her personal experience with guns.

03:03 PM -- David Hoover, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Hoover spoke about his personal experience with gun violence. He responded to questions from the committee about the process of private gun transfers.

03:08 PM -- Marisa Dirks, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Dirks expressed her opinion that the National Rifle Association has changed its mission over time.

03:12 PM -- Karen Rosenschein, representing Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, testified in opposition to the bill.

03:15 PM -- Lydia Waligorski, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Waligorski spoke about the prohibition against gun ownership by individuals who have a qualifying domestic violence conviction. She provided statistics about intimate partner gun violence.

03:19 PM -- Michael McGuire, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. McGuire spoke about his passion for gun safety.

03:26 PM -- Jennifer Hope, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Hope spoke about her personal experience with gun violence. She discussed her passion for safer communities and gun safety.

03:30 PM -- Patricia Taylor, representing Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Taylor expressed her opinion that background checks work.

03:31 PM -- Lisa Corbett, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Corbett spoke about gun violence and her background as a police dispatcher. She responded to questions from the committee about guns in schools.

03:37 PM -- Jim Engelking, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Engelking discussed the gun control legislation brought forward in 2013. He spoke about his passion for gun safety, which was triggered by the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

03:41 PM -- Owen Clyncke, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Clyncke expressed his opinion that citizens should not have to pay for background checks. He stated that he also supports Senate Bill 15-032. He discussed his constitutional right to keep and bear arms. He spoke about gun control laws versus the number of guns in Vermont.

03:47 PM -- Angela Padilla, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Padilla spoke about gun violence in Colorado.

03:50 PM -- Beverly Bunker, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Bunker spoke about her professional experience and about her children's experience with gun violence at Arapahoe High School.

03:54 PM -- Alana Smart, representing Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Smart reiterated the testimony of prior witnesses.

03:58 PM -- Katie Lyles, representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in opposition to the bill and to House Bill 15-1168. Ms. Lyles spoke about her experience as a student at Columbine High School and as a teacher in the Jefferson County School District. She expressed concerns about the possession of guns in schools. She distributed copies of her written statement (Attachment B).

15HouseState0413AttachB.pdf15HouseState0413AttachB.pdf

04:04 PM -- Jon Ippolito, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Ippolito stated that he supports background checks, but would like their administration to be different. He discussed his experience as a deputy district attorney. He expressed his opinion that the large-capacity ammunition magazine ban is ineffective and should be repealed. He indicated that studies show that ammunition magazine bans have no effect on public safety. He stated that Dan May, the 4th Judicial District Attorney, supports Senate Bill 15-175. He responded to questions from the committee about fine-tuning Colorado gun laws.

04:17 PM -- Tom Mauser, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mauser spoke generally about public safety and gun violence. He discussed public opinion about these issues and individuals who are denied permission for a gun transfer. He expressed support for preventative steps to end gun violence.

04:20 PM -- Erin DaCosta, representing herself, testified in opposition to House Bill 15-1168. Ms. DaCosta expressed her fears about guns being carried in schools. She talked about gun violence in Colorado.

04:24 PM -- Robert Barnett, representing himself, testified in support of SB 15-086, HB 15-1168, and SB 15-175. He discussed the right to self-defense. He spoke in support of concealed weapons and stated that it is an original right to be able to bear arms.


04:28 PM

Representative Joshi provided concluding remarks regarding the bill.
BILL:SB15-086
TIME: 04:39:42 PM
MOVED:Neville P.
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-086 to the Committee on Finance. The motion failed on a vote of 4-7.
SECONDED:Humphrey
VOTE
Foote
No
Humphrey
Yes
Lontine
No
Neville P.
Yes
Primavera
No
Tate
Yes
Thurlow
No
Tyler
No
Willett
Yes
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 4 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:SB15-086
TIME: 04:40:24 PM
MOVED:Salazar
MOTION:Postpone Senate Bill 15-086 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 7-4.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
No
Lontine
Yes
Neville P.
No
Primavera
Yes
Tate
No
Thurlow
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Willett
No
Salazar
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS