For Colorado, What Do We Do Now?

Obviously, we keep fighting, but the fight will go in other directions. We need to reach out to the state Senators, even though they will ignore us exactly the same way the House Reps did. We also need to constantly barrage the Governor with emails, mail, calls, etc.

The reason that our strength of numbers isn't working is because my sources tell me that Michael Bloomberg and the Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) organization, who provided the boilerplate for the laws, paid for all the witnesses and essentially organized this whole bit of theater, will finance a primary election challenges from the left for any Democrat who breaks rank and votes against these bills.

The fight will continue in the courts...I have spent a lot of time with attorneys the last few days, and most of these laws are patently unconstitutional. The reason the magazine capacity was raised from 10 to 15 was an attempt to try to get the law to pass Constitutional muster. The fact that a person can't sell or transfer standard capacity magazines after 1 July is probably by legal definition a "taking," the state either seizing property or rendering it worthless. One firearms attorney I spoke with was skeptical that the "Exemptions" provision of the universal background check bill would stand. But anyone who says they guarantee a court will rule one way or the other is a liar.

The fight will continue in the 2014 elections...laws can and have been repealed. My person plan is to travel to each of the districts were ostensibly "pro-gun" Democrats are running for reelection, set up events for shooters and make sure that everyone in those mostly rural districts understand who sold them out. Conversely, I've already told some of the bills' opponents that I will unconditionally support them, with appearances if they think it will help.

For individuals, it's time to protect yourselves...buy as many standard capacity magazines as you can afford. If you're dealing with competition magazines, say for USPSA competition, don't be afraid to directly ask the smaller companies you deal with to maybe move you to the top of the purchase list. Will that work? Don't know, but it's worth a try. There are AR 30 and 40 round magazines trickling into the market...check out Centerfire Systems, CDNN, The Mako Group, and keep tabs on sites like AR15News. For non-AR mags, they are around, but many retailers are capping the number at 2 per purchase per day, so you're probably going to become a really regular customer!

You may need to clarify issues of firearms ownership...for example, if you and your Significant Other are not married, then under the "Exceptions" provisions of the universal background check law you may need to make sure that firearms used by both people are jointly owned and can therefore be used by either person. The same for standard capacity magazines...remember, the purpose of these laws is not to reduce crime, protect children, whatever...the purpose of these laws is to trap you and provide a framework where you can be stripped of your rights.

Right now, it's hard to give specific advice, because the bills haven't passed, much less become law, and, ultimately, the courts will have to interpret them.

More gun laws in Colorado will be forthcoming, so the other shoe hasn't dropped. One of those may be an "assault weapons" ban. It may make sense to source and purchase an AR lower if you can find one, and I have seen more of them coming onto the market in recent days. Yes, you're going to have to ay more than in the "old days" — I've seen them in the plus-or-minus $200 range — but if worse comes to worst, you'll still have a "grandfathered" gun.

And so the fight continues...we'll keep you informed!