This week's headlines

Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee, speaking at the county commissioners' quarterly constituents' forum on March 12, outlined the position of county sheriffs to some of the gun control legislation under consideration by the General Assembly.

Uniformed sheriffs and deputies representing over half the departments in the state traveled to Denver two weeks ago and gave testimony against some of the seven proposals.

McKee was elected president of the County Sheriffs of Colorado in January.

The group of law enforcement professionals was strongly opposed to a bill requiring universal background checks for all gun sales.

"There is no way in the world to enforce that," McKee said. "It will only make law-abiding people into criminals."

Another measure would limit the number of rounds of ammunition that a single magazine can hold. McKee said the law is "unenforceable totally." The sheriffs strongly oppose that measure, which was sponsored and supported by the Democratic majority.

Still, those two bills were advanced by the General Assembly and as of Tuesday were awaiting Governor Hickenlooper's signature.

McKee said the sheriffs also oppose a ban on concealed carry on college campuses. McKee explained testimony from women who had been sexually assaulted on college campuses and who carry handguns as a result contributed to the bill's defeat. The women testified they would continue to carry concealed handguns on campus regardless of any law against doing so.

A proposed bill that would have created "unlimited liability" for anyone who ever owned a particular assault weapon was called "a stupid piece of legislation" by McKee. It did not advance.

The county sheriff's group was neutral on a bill restricting ownership of firearms by domestic violence offenders. Offenders are already subject to firearms restrictions in some instances, McKee noted.

The sheriffs are also neutral on a proposal to tighten requirements for mandated classes to obtain a concealed carry permit. Many county sheriffs don't think a permit to carry concealed weapons should be required, McKee said. But since a permit is already required, the group was neutral on the proposal.

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