Senate President John Morse urged the faithful at a Democratic dinner to show up at the Capitol Monday to counteract the busloads of people he said the NRA would be shipping in to oppose gun legislation.
The Colorado Springs Democrat addressed the state party’s annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner held in Denver Saturday night, where he introduced the Democratic caucus.
“I can’t tell you how much the work we’ve been doing in the state has really ginned up folks who are opposed to us,” Morse said. “We’ve been getting an awful lot of ‘screw yous.’ I think now is the time for our senators to get some ‘thank yous.’”
Two Senate committees on Monday will hear seven gun bills in a marathon session that could go into Tuesday. Already some Republicans are upset that the testimony on each bill be limited to 90 minutes. The full Senate will debate all seven bills Friday, which Morse said will a “long drawn out day.”
“I know everyone in this room has been hugely supportive of Democrats and the democratic process,” he said. “But if you have an opportunity on Monday come down to the state Capitol. The NRA is going to be busing in a bunch of people on the other side. It would be so great to have you there to help us get this done.”
State Sen. Greg Brophy, the Republicans’ point man on gun bills, said the National Rifle Association doesn’t need to bus people in, Coloradans are willing to go Denver on their own to fight the Democrats’ gun legislation.
“There is only one party listening to people from out of state,” he said, referring to Democrats and their relationship with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on gun legislation.
“The other party is listening to people from Colorado.”
The NRA couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Here is the bill schedule:
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Old Supreme Court Chambers
Senate Bill 197: Restricts firearms for domestic violence offenders
House Bill 1224: Limits ammunition magazines to 15 rounds
Senate Bill 196: Assesses liability for assault weapons
Senate Bill 195: Bans online training for concealed handgun permits
SENATE STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Room 356
House Bill 1229: Requires universal background checks for gun sales and transfers
House Bill 1228: Requires gun customers to pay the costs of their background checks
House Bill 1226: Outlaws concealed-weapon permit holders from packing heat in campus buildings