Hundreds Gather at Colorado Capitol to Protest Assault Weapons Ban

Colorado lawmakers gathered at the state’s capitol today to discuss a proposed bill that would ban assault weapons. However, they weren’t alone. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Colorado Capitol building to exercise their First Amendment rights and oppose the bill. The protest not only drew locals but household names from the national firearms community.

Hundreds Gather at Colorado Capitol to Protest Assault Weapons Ban

This was the first time lawmakers gathered to vote on the bill. While legislators originally expected to vote on the bill on Tuesday, March 19, the sheer number of everyday citizens lining up to testify against the potential law may postpone that vote into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

More than 600 witnesses signed up to testify against the ban. They’ve engaged in 12 hours of testimony, which still continues at the time of this writing.

That included everyday Colorado citizens, along with gun rights activists like Brandon Herrera. Herrera, also known as “The AK Guy,” is a gunsmith, online influencer, and candidate for US Congress, came to show his support for Colorado gun owners. Herrera is currently engaged in a runoff election in Texas District 23 – the home of Robb Elementary School, which experienced one of the deadliest mass shootings ever in 2022.

One Colorado resident who came to speak against the bill was Mark “Oz” Geist. Geist is a former Marine who served in Iraq and as a Sheriff in Teller County. He’s most famous for his exploits on September 11 and 12, 2012, when he was engaged in the defense of the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya. He is credited with saving 25 American lives in an intense, five-hour firefight.

Final Thoughts

I’m not particularly hopeful that any of this protesting will actually do anything. As I’ve written before, the Colorado legislature is so stacked with gun control advocates that this bill seems like it’s a sure thing.

Colorado lawmakers already appear to have their minds made up. Democrats Elizabeth Epps and Tim Hernandez, who sponsored the bill, have enough allies to push the bill through to Governor Jared Polis’ desk.

Polis, a Democrat, has signified that he doesn’t approve of assault weapons bans before. He has the power to veto the bill, but he may sign it, saying that it’s the will of the people. However, Polis does seem to have presidential aspirations, and realize that an assault weapon ban would be kryptonite for a bid at national office.