Washington – Rep. Marilyn Musgrave said she would have voted Thursday for a bill blocking lawsuits against gunmakers and dealers. But Musgrave, one of Colorado’s most avidly pro- gun-rights leaders, ran late and missed the House vote approving the measure.
“As the founder and chairwoman of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, I am supportive of this bill,” said the Republican from Fort Morgan. “Unfortunately, I missed this vote because I was still on my way from working in committee and time had expired once I made it to the floor. I would have voted for it.”
Musgrave’s vote was not needed for the bill to pass, 283-144.
It was supported by the National Rifle Association and opposed by gun-control groups.
Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., was among 59 Democrats out of 202 who voted for the measure. His brother, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., also voted for the bill when it passed the Senate 65-31 in July.
“It’s time for Congress to derail the efforts of certain groups to bankrupt the firearms industry,” Rep. Salazar said.
The rest of Colorado’s House delegation voted along party lines: Republican Reps. Bob Beauprez of Arvada, Tom Tancredo of Littleton and Joel Hefley of Colorado Springs voted for the bill; Democratic Reps. Diana DeGette of Denver and Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs voted against it.
Tom Mauser, president of Colorado Ceasefire Capital Fund, said he was “extremely disappointed” by Thursday’s vote, especially in the support it received from Democrats such as Salazar.
“I thought they were more supportive of gun victims,” said Mauser, whose work on gun issues was spurred by his son Daniel’s death in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
