Debate on red flag bill heats up late night in Colorado House

Colorado's House gave preliminary approval Wednesday night to the most controversial gun legislation of the 2018 session: the so-called "red flag" bill, House Bill 1436.

The bill would allow law enforcement and/or family members of an at-risk person to obtain a temporary "extreme risk protective order" that would then allow a law enforcement officer to remove firearms and ammunition from the person's control.

That protective order would remain in place for seven days, at which time the at-risk person, who has been deemed a danger to him/herself or to others, has an opportunity to have the firearms returned. If the person is still a risk - at that time the burden of proof changes from a preponderance of evidence to a higher standard of clear and convincing evidence - the ERPO can remain in effect for another 182 days.

Wednesday night's discussion on the bill produced a hush for much of the two-hour debate in the normally chatty House chamber.

Read more: http://gazette.com/debate-on-red-flag-bill-heats-up-late-night-in-colorado-house/article/1625369