February 12, 2015 VOLU M E 1 0 | I S SUE 37
ArvadaPress.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Remembering a piece of the past
House Dems vote down proposed gun laws Parties divided over legislation By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com
The Arvada Trolley, seen here circa 1924, was recently named to Colorado’s Most Endangered Places Program, an organization that helps preserve historical artifacts, buildings, and resources for future generations through the Colorado Preservation Inc. Courtesy photo
Signs seek more awareness of parking City hopes to eliminate violations in handicap spaces By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com For the mobility-disabled, finding a parking spot, already an often-frustrating tasks, becomes even more difficult when others take handicap designated spots. The “Think of Me Keep it Free” campaign has made its way into Arvada parking lots. Developed with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, the campaign use handicap signs with images of Denver-metro disabled residents on them to encourage violators to empathize with the individuals and park somewhere else. “This pilot program adds a personal element to a rather impersonal sign,” said Chris Hinds, a Denver resident pictured on some of the signs. “When disabled spaces were created there was a culture around them — over time, that culture has changed.” Last year, Arvada saw 183 handicap violations, including blocking access to a handicapped loading zone, fraudulent use of a handicap placard, parking in a posted handicapped zone and unlawful parking in a handicapped space. According to the Arvada Police Department, a first-time offender will receive a $350 ticket, and any repeat offenses increases the cost to $700, a fine that is expected to rise nationwide. “I think people have become numb to these blue signs (handicap signs), and these are real people who have a real need,” said Arvada Councilman Bob Fifer. “The key word
There was a fervor for gun legislation at the State Capitol last week with seven proposed measures going through House and Senate committees. Republicans and Democrats dished out party-line votes that left both groups at an impasse on many of those bills. Five gun bills that concern permits, background checks and private firearm transfers were some of the measures heard in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee. The measures predictably failed while the Senate Judiciary committee passed two gun measures with a Republican majority vote, 3-2. A House bill proposed by Rep. Janak Joshi, R-Colorado Springs, which repeals the state’s requirement for criminal background checks prior to a private gun transfer, garnered a duplicate measure in the Senate. With the House version failing, the Senate bill is expected to die as well, once it reaches the Democratic controlled House. Attempts by Republicans to reverse contentious gun laws was anticipated for this year’s legislative session, but some lawmakers were left scratching their heads at bills that have received past bipartisan support. One of the Senate bills heard in committee last week aimed to lift restrictions on the carrying of a concealed handgun by getting rid of the permit requirement which was passed into law in 2003. The bill would not change existing prohibitions from carrying concealed guns in certain public places such as school grounds. Sen. Michael Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee inquired about the changes to the 2003 law he helped to establish. “It was a bipartisan bill,” Merrifield said. “I’m curious as to what’s wrong with what we did 14 years ago … what’s broken?” Proponents for the bill argued that the state’s mandatory criminal background check for gun purchases should be all that
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GUN LEGISLATION
Signs featuring Chris Hinds and other handicapped individuals are placed in the parking lots around the King Soopers grocer at 58th and Independence Street. Photo by Crystal Anderson is to humanize the situation and be compassionate for your fellow neighbor in need.” The city placed 30 signs at two locations in the city, King Soopers, 9731 W. 58th Ave., and the Costco Wholesale, 5195 Wadsworth Blvd. Over the next six months, police will track the number of infractions recorded at both locations. For Hinds, the issue stems from an education gap. “The people on these signs and those who need the spaces are Colorado’s most fragile
drivers,” he said. “When you take that space away from them, sometimes that’s their only chance to get out of the house or a nursing home.” According to Fifer, the program has spread awareness around the city and to a police department in Austin, Texas, that is looking to implement the program after hearing of its utilization in Arvada. For Fifer and Hinds, the hope is to show compassion for individuals who aren’t as ablebodied as others, and to overall
eliminate these offenses. “By attaching a human element, we hope people will realize it isn’t just 88 square feet of concrete, but there are people with severe mobility impairments that can’t get across the parking lot,” Hinds said. “We have to start to change the culture from within and in other places as well.” To see a video describing the campaign with a test run of drivers, go to showyou.com/v/yKn1qEUHVVoI/think-of-mekeep-it-free.
HB 1009: Repeal large ammo magazine ban: Failed in House committee HB 1049: Deadly force against intruders in businesses HB 1050: Repeal Gun Transfer Background Check requirement and fee for private firearm transfers: Failed in house committee HB 1086: CBI produce certificates for gun transferees HB 1127: Reducing civil liability for businesses that permit the carrying of concealed handguns: Failed in House committee HB 1138: Concerning concealed handgun permits; the bill allows a valid Colorado concealed handgun permit to substitute as an otherwise authorized criminal background check pursuant to the transfer of a firearm: To be heard in committee HB 1168: Permitting the carrying of concealed handguns on public elementary and secondary school properties: To be heard in committee SB 32: Allows a person who legally possesses a handgun under state and federal law to carry a concealed handgun in Colorado with receiving a permit; passed in Senate committee SB 86: duplicate of HB 1050; passed in Senate committee