Coors is no fan of many gun laws
By Gwen Florio, Rocky Mountain News
September 2, 2004

Both Pete Coors and Ken Salazar hold themselves up as defenders of the Second Amendment - the right to bear arms.

If Coors, a former National Rifle Association poster boy, had his way, a lot more people would be able to bear a lot more arms.

Queried at the Republican National Convention about his stance against continuing the federal assault weapons ban, Coors responded that in Colorado, "we believe in the right to bear arms without restrictions."

The decade-old ban is to expire Sept. 14. President Bush has said he'll sign an extension if it reaches his desk.

Coors' spokeswoman, Cinamon Watson, said Wednesday that the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate "is not an advocate for further gun laws. However, he does support strong enforcement of the gun laws on the books."

Earlier this year, though, Coors spoke at a Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition meeting in support of the repeal of several of those laws.

In response to a question from the group's Steve Gresh, Coors said that the Brady Bill, which requires background checks for gun buyers, should also be repealed, along with federal firearms laws from 1934 and 1968 that impose a host of controls.

Under those laws, people can't own machine guns or sawed-off shotguns, nor can people convicted of serious crimes, juveniles, aliens or people dishonorably discharged from the military own guns.

In a questionnaire posted on the group's Web site, Coors also said he supported repealing the Lautenberg Amendment, which bars those convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from owning guns; opposed any sort of firearms registration; and opposed limiting the number of guns a person can own.

Although the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition can't formally endorse federal candidates, both Gresh, the group's secretary, and Harry Wellman, its treasurer, said Wednesday they personally support Coors.

Watson said Wednesday that "Pete stands by his positions. He's not flip-flopping on any issues."

However, she said, "in many cases, some of these laws that are 50 years old need to be retooled and reworked so they don't inhibit the rights of law-abiding citizens."

Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar, Coors' Democratic opponent in the Senate race, said he finds Coors' position "too extreme."

"When you talk about repealing bans on machine guns and sawed-off shotguns, it's not where the people of Colorado are and not where the people of the country are," he said.


Pete Coors for Senate
Headquarters Location:
300 West Plaza Drive, Suite 175
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
303-470-7001
[email protected]

It's MILLER COOR'S time!

Why wouldnt any gun owner support INSTANT background checks for purchases?

I have been drinking more coors than bud.


Does that count?

Quoted: Why wouldnt any gun owner support INSTANT background checks for purchases?

Because I can't subject you to an instant check when selling you a gun.

Private sales become a "LOOPHOLE".  See where that goes?

Quoted: Quoted: Why wouldnt any gun owner support INSTANT background checks for purchases? Because I can't subject you to an instant check when selling you a gun. Private sales become a "LOOPHOLE".  See where that goes?

I see the loophole arguement.  But its not a good enough reason to no support instant background checks.

Its still good policy to prevent bad guys from being able to waltz into gun shops and buy what they want.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why wouldnt any gun owner support INSTANT background checks for purchases? Because I can't subject you to an instant check when selling you a gun. Private sales become a "LOOPHOLE".  See where that goes? I see the loophole arguement.  But its not a good enough reason to no support instant background checks. Its still good policy to prevent bad guys from being able to waltz into gun shops and buy what they want.

A good policy would be to free the good guys up so there will be no more bad guys.

Bad guys are bad guys because they commit crimes, not because they buy guns.

In response to a question from the group's Steve Gresh, Coors said that the Brady Bill, which requires background checks for gun buyers, should also be repealed, along with federal firearms laws from 1934 and 1968 that impose a host of controls.

Yes, we definitely want Coors to win that race - not only are there few people in the Senate now who have the balls to make that public statement, Coor's opponent Salazar has signed the MMM pledge card, supports the ban renewal and is generally your standard Dem-issue gun grabber.

As of August 20, the two were tied in the polls - Coors 48% vs. Salazar 47%, margin of error 4%.

Bump in case any one missed a U.S. Senate candidate with a chance of winning declaring support for repeal of the 1934 NFA.

Sounds like my kinda guy.

Pete Coors for President!