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Lawsuit challenges red flag law Opponents say measure was passed unconstitutionally BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
volume of goose excrement unacceptable. He laments cleaning goose poop from his dog, as well as himself. He also feels the geese are responsible for the lawn erosion on the banks of Ferril Lake in City Park. “The east shore of the lake between the lake and park road was fully dead, no grass, noxious spiky weeds had taken over,” Scarbeary said. “Overgrazing by geese and then the bulk of their poop had killed most of the grass.” Canada geese are prodigious consumers of cultivated turf lawns. And where there is foraging, there is defecation. Lots of defecation.
A leading pro-gun organization says Colorado’s red flag bill signed into law less than a month ago was not passed in accordance with rules laid out in the state Constitution — and they’re taking that argument to court with the hope a judge declares the law void altogether. Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, along with House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock, and state Reps. Lori Saine, R- Firestone, and Dave Williams, R- Colorado Springs, are plaintiffs in a lawsuit Rocky Mountain Gun Owners filed in Denver District Court on May 2. Gov. Jared Polis is listed as the sole defendant. “Democrats used illegal and unconstitutional tactics and methods to push a bill that would remove due process rights of our citizens,” said Rocky Mountain Gun Owners Executive Director Dudley Brown. “If a judge agrees with us, the Constitution will throw this law out and effectively kill the red flag bill.” Article V, Section 22 of the state Constitution governs the reading of bills, said the group’s attorney, Barry Arrington, adding that House rules require if there is not unanimous consent from legislators to waive the full reading of a bill, it must be read at length.
SEE GOOSE, P15
SEE RED FLAG, P7
William Johnson and his son Chase feed the geese by Grasmere Lake in Washington Park on a Saturday in April.
RYAN BORTHICK
Duck, duck, goose poop Large goose populations cause problems with turf, park water BY JOE CARABELLO SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
On a sunny day in Denver, parks overflow with residents enjoying the outdoors. But more and more people also are finding themselves co-existing with the large amounts of geese who call the parks home — and the slimy, green poop they leave in their stead. Following the creation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, many
Denver parks, including Washington Park and City Park, began experiencing an overabundance of Canada geese. The U.S. Department of the Interior drafted the legislation to protect an endangered migratory species of Canada geese — not the resident ones. That distinction that has become the crux of a dispute surrounding the waterfowl: Conflicts involving wildlife and people seem to elicit passionate and spirited opinions from both sides of the issue. “I have lived in South City Park for 30 years and I believe the geese have a right to be here,” said Bonita Lahey. “They are protected by international law.” David Scarbeary, also a 30-year resident of City Park South, finds the
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“The idea that the richest country in the world hasn’t figured out how to have universal health care is beyond embarrassing. It’s devastating.” U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, candidate for president | Page 2 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10 | CALENDAR: PAGE 13 VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 26