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Colorado State Capitol Action-Guns and Related Subjects
March 7, 2009 | Tagged Background check fees, Colorado Legislature, Firearms Coalition of Colorado, Illegal aliens, Search and Rescue Fees, Second Amendment | Leave a Comment
In committee action Friday at the Colorado State Capitol, Steve Schreiner of the Firearms Coalition of Colorado and representatives of hunting and fishing organizations succeeded in stalling an increase in search and rescue fees that was intended to raise revenues on the backs of Colorado hunters and fishers. The fight isn’t over yet, but Friday was a victory for equality with regard to fees for persons who engage in outdoor/back country recreation in Colorado.
Hunters and fishers are easy targets for fee increases, since they buy licenses for their activities. Owners of larger boats, off road vehicles, and snowmobilers pay the search and rescue fees with their registrations. State Park users, who buy Habitat Stamps, ”contribute” to the fund. Hunters and fishers also automatically “contribute” to the Habitat Stamp Fund, since a Habitat Stamp comes with the hunting or fishing license. (That’s another story.)
Hikers, backpackers,bird watchers, nature photographers, trail bikers, skiers, canoe users, kayak users and other unlicensed/unregistered, non-consumptive outdoor folk benefit from search and rescue services and maintenance of wildlife habitat, but aren’t easily charged for their share of the costs, as long as they don’t use state parks. Of course, non-consumptive users can voluntarily buy a Habitat Stamp and a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue(CORSAR) Card. According to information provided at the last meeting of the Sportsman’s Caucus at the State Legislature, the voluntary response of non-consumptive users has been somewhat underwhelming, at least with regard to the Habitat Stamp.
Non-consumptive users and environmental groups are pushing for a larger voice in how public lands are administered in Colorado. I believe ways need to be found to insure that they pay their fair share of the costs. This process could be a proverbial double-edged sword, since getting the non-consumptive users to be “patriotic” and pay their way would probably involve more bureaucrats, red tape, and government control. Imagine getting a license to take a hike along a green space trail close to your home.
In the Orwellian world of the Left’s apparent determination to regulate everything, state hiking permits may not be far off. I understand that reservations are already required in many national park campgrounds. You already pay to drive into Colorado state parks.
In other news, Colorado’s Democrat Governor Ritter has apparently been forestalled, so far, in his drive to tax firearms’ background checks to the tune of an extra $15.00 above the current $10.00 fee. The current fee goes to the dealer performing the check.
The $10.00 fee was part of a compromise struck as part of the passage of Amendment 22 that requires background checks at Colorado gun shows. I believe any fee increase would be an extraordinary example of bad faith on the part of state government.
In addition to the bad faith issue, I believe that any tax on the exercise of a constitutional right is illegal. The Supreme Court struck down poll taxes. Someday, hopefully, the Court will strike down fees for background checks, if not the background checks, themselves.
SB 170, the bill that grants in-state tuition to illegal aliens who graduate high school and “promise” to try to become citizens sailed through the Senate Education Committee this week on a party line vote. It will go to the floor of the Senate without going through the Appropriations Committee. (Go figure!) As a Second Amendment advocate, I am concerned about this bill, because I see it as a blatant attempt by the Democrat Party to pander to illegal aliens and enroll them as citizens in a new voting bloc for, you guessed it, the Democrat Party.
Stay alert! Eternal vigilance…
Def Mech