Colorado lawmaker drops gun in Capitol while hurrying to abortion vote

[bluedigger]

Source: Colorado Public Radio

Witnesses call incident ‘reckless and scary’

A Colorado lawmaker accidentally dropped his handgun in a public area inside the state Capitol on Monday. The firearm did not discharge and no one was injured.

According to three witnesses, Republican state Rep. Richard Holtorf was hurrying up a short set of steps outside the House chamber when his handgun fell out of his pants onto the marble floor. The witnesses said Holtorf quickly picked it up and proceeded to enter the chamber.

The incident occurred as House members were voting on an amendment to a bill that would enshrine abortion access into state law.

Holtorf and Republican House leaders did not immediately return a request for comment. The witnesses told CPR News the incident was “reckless and scary.” They asked to remain anonymous for fear that going public would jeopardize their work with Republican lawmakers.

Read more: https://www.the-journal.com/articles/colorado-lawmaker-drops-gun-in-capitol-while-hurrying-to-abortion-vote/

[Kablooie]

1. Are they allowed to carry guns into the Capitol?

[Totally Tunsie]

2. From the linked article:

Colorado’s Capitol, like most statehouses across the country, has checkpoints with metal detectors at its public entrances. Visitors and lobbyists must pass through under the watchful eyes of State Patrol officers and are not allowed to bring in weapons of any kind.

But lawmakers are allowed to bypass those security checkpoints. They are also allowed to carry concealed weapons because of a state law that designates the Capitol as their place of business. A number of legislators have said they do carry inside the building for a variety of reasons, including for self-defense and as a way to protect others in the event of an attack.

(bolding mine)

[Escurumbele]

6. "But lawmakers are allowed to bypass those security checkpoints." this is part of the problem

these "public servants" are treated differently than a employee would be in a regular job. At the end of the day, to be a "public servant", someone in public office is nothing more than that, and they need to be treated the same, not as if they were special people. Too many loopholes for these people, no wonder these jobs attract so many shady characters.

[Kablooie]

10. Ah. So he just looks like a fool, not a criminal.

[Totally Tunsie]

11. LOL - a good way of looking at it!

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Exactly what goes on there that they need guns for "self defense??"

[Totally Tunsie]

20. Beats me! Sounds tough in Colorado!

Perhaps OP, who linked the referenced article and lives in CO, might be able to give us some insight.

[monkeyman1]

27. bad legislation!!

[gldstwmn]

42. The Capitol is a beautiful building with a gold leaf dome. However it is across

the street from Civic Center Park which was actually closed last year as a public health danger due to a large homeless population. Urban camping is a thing in Denver. It has always been a bad neighborhood and the center of many protests. Fentanyl use is rampant in that area. Since the pandemic it has been somewhat empty except for the homeless. It's somewhat scarier than it used to be.

[rpannier]

21. In the event of a political attack?

I thought the correct phrase for those things was, "legitimate political discourse"

[Luciferous]

38. Protect others?! He can't even keep his gun from falling out of his pants 😂

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Into the chamber (Colorado). But not US Senate or House

Madison Cawthorn claims to have brought multiple weapons into the Capitol on Jan 6, hidden in his wheelchair. Congress critters apparently have an exemption to DC laws against guns on the Capitol grounds, so I'm not sure why the subterfuge was needed or if it is even true.

[L. Coyote]

40. Didn't Cawthorne have the guns at the Ellipse when he spoke?

Can Congress members carry anywhere in DC?

[raising2moredems]

18. Well..

It's his manhood so I suspect he takes it everywhere.

[Srkdqltr]

3. If he can't hang onto it he shouldn't have it. What a dumb***.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. He needs more "gun control". . . nt

[Grokenstein]

4. "Sir! You dropped your dick, sir!"

[bottomofthehill]

9. Tucking your gun in your pants is always an option, Not a good one, but an option.....

Last edited Tue Mar 15, 2022, 10:28 PM - Edit history (1)

How did this guy make it through 5 tours and the Army War College. Lets make it a little more simple though. Your holster, remember, always use a holster, a good holster should secure the handgun to you. This is very important, ya don't want to be running around dropping your gun in a crowded State House. It should be comfortable so you are not fucking around and playing with it so you don’t accidentally knock it off in a crowded State House.

[keithbvadu2]

12. Responsible gun ownership?

Responsible gun ownership?

[AdamGG]

13. This could easily by a headline from The Onion

[Martin68]

14. A woman in a local yoga class dropped a gun right in the middle of class. I just wonder where you

hide a gun in a yoga outfit.

[Dial H For Hero]

17. You don't want to know. Trust me on this.

[orangecrush]

31. ...

[IronLionZion]

22. The Things Women Have Hidden in Their Vaginas

https://www.vice.com/en/article/53nvwd/the-things-women-have-hidden-in-their-vaginas

Read at your own risk

[GoneOffShore]

37. Must. Not. Click. On. Link!

Did. NOT. Click. On. Link!

[BobTheSubgenius]

15. Gosh, I wonder which way he voted.

[gldstwmn]

43. They actually filibustered the bill before it passed.

[BobTheSubgenius]

44. Hardly a surprise, I guess.

[Bristlecone]

19. Too bad it didn't go off and hit him. Thankfully it didn't go off and hurt others

Just another careless, gun jumper who’s fragile ego needs stroking.

[monkeyman1]

28. to bad a round didn't go up his butt ?

[Beartracks]

23. Obviously a responsible gun-owner.

========

[IronLionZion]

24. I can't be the only one who clicked this expecting Boebert

[SouthBayDem]

25. Sheesh I thought the same! nt

[SouthBayDem]

26. Original link to Colorado Public Radio story

https://www.cpr.org/2022/03/14/colorado-capitol-richard-holtorf-drops-firearm/

[Qutzupalotl]

29. 'cuz he's so pro-life

[msfiddlestix]

30. Headline should have included the words "Colorado *State* Capitol"

Please respect readers by including vitally important specifics for context.

tia..

[bluedigger]

32. Perhaps a strongly worded LTE is called for.

I sure can't help you.

[Aristus]

33. And yet these clowns always describe themselves as master gunslingers.

It's just like those 300lbs losers with two left feet and the muscle tone of wet toilet paper who think they're elite commandos just because they wear camo and brandish assault rifles.

[milestogo]

34. pro-life but can't go anywhere without a gun

Too bad he didn't shoot his dick off.

[Blue_playwright]

35. This f*ck*ng headline could only happen in America

What a freaking joke our government has become in the last 40 years.

[riversedge]

36. Article said the gun fell out of his pants pocket. Aren't guns usually in some type

of holster--like a shoulder holster?? You can tell I do not carry a gun, but seems to me that just putting a loaded gun into your pants pocket is dangerous -and stupid.

[yardwork]

39. THIS is what the United States has become.

[newdayneeded]

41. They keep saying they're so tough.

But they carry guns because they're terrified of their own shadows.