Gov. John Hickenlooper ignited a political firestorm with his comments last Friday to Colorado’s sheriffs, saying he was unaware they wanted to meet with him in 2013 to discuss their concerns over proposed gun laws until it was too late and he had no idea the measures would be so controversial. He also said he regretted not having all the facts when he signed the bills into law.
During his apology to the sheriffs at Friday’s meeting in Aspen, Hickenlooper also said he had never spoken to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg about the gun legislation. On Sunday, Complete Colorado posted a story and video saying phone records and interviews contradict that statement. The governor’s spokesman later said Hickenlooper had erred, but did not mean to mislead the sheriffs or anyone else.
Hickenlooper’s comments to the sheriffs on Facebook after Montezuma County Sheriff Dennis Spruell posted them on Facebook while the governor was speaking. Spruell said that while he found the governor very “personable, very likable,” he also didn’t believe him. And Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez on Monday questioned the governor’s leadership, while GOP candidate Scott Gessler was trying to “backtrack his way to being viewed as a moderate again.”
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