COLORADO CLUSTERF%$K!

Minutes after signing the most draconian antigun laws in Colorado history, Governor John "No, Really, I'm A Moderate!" Hickenlooper and his band of tame chimpanzees issued a "signing statement" alleging that at least the magazine capacity ban didn't really mean what the magazine capacity ban law said. Here's an example:

In considering the language of HB13-1224, we have consulted with the Office of the Attorney General and we concur with its advice that the large-capacity magazine ban should be construed narrowly to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Second Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. We have signed HB13-1224 into law based on the understanding that it will be interpreted and applied narrowly and consistently with these important constitutional provisions.

Read the whole tortured exercise here.

In short. these clowns took Michael Bloomberg at his word that the boilerplate laws were reasonable, Constitutional and good for what ails ya! What they didn't do is either read the laws they introduced — and after 5 days at the state capitol talking to the people who introduced these laws, I'm not entirely convinced they could read them, certainly not without moving their lips. I have NEVER met a less impressive group of individuals in my life! They also made the decision — well, they actually just followed Bloomberg's 4 full-time paid lobbyists' script — and ignored any criticism of the Bloomberg boilerplate because, you know, Michael Bloomberg wouldn't lie, would he?

Now they're walking it back all over the place, because the laws are disasters, designed solely to punish innocent citizens for "technical" infractions. They are also starting to realize that these laws are not going to pass Constitutional muster. Here's our "caring" Governor:

“I was ambivalent on this to a degree,” Hickenlooper said, noting the inconvenience for law-abiding gun owners. “But in the end, these high-capacity magazines turn killers into killing machines. I think the potential for damage seems to outweigh the inconvenience.”

Here's the "inconvenience" the Governor is talking about — arrest for possession of a magazine with a capacity of greater than 15 rounds or a magazine that can be readily converted to such, confiscation of your vehicle (if the magazines were found in a vehicle or any other reason the police can think of), the magazines and your firearms, a trip to jail where you'll be booked, fingerprinted and thrown into a cell until you can reach your criminal attorney, who will charge you a "standard" retainer of $10,000 and arrange your bail. Eventually, you'll go before a judge, who will ask your attorney for a plea — innocent — and do you have a defense? You will say yes, I owned the magazine prior to 1 July 2013, and the judge will say, "No harm; no foul; you're free to go."

Of course, you've got to pay your attorney, and because your car, guns and magazines were "seized for cause," that is, the property was confiscated because you in fact broke a law, you will probably get your car back, but Denver and surrounding municipalities have a policy that NO guns "seized for cause" will be returned.

That's the minor "inconvenience" that the Governor says is definitely worth inflicting on law-abiding Colorado citizens for a law that will, according to B-Ho's own Justice Department says will have NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on crime.

That John Hickenlooper, what a guy! I so look forward to voting against him!