Rhonda Fields

Colorado gun-control laws: Columbine dad criticizes sheriffs' lawsuit

Earlier this week, we talked with the Independence Institute's Dave Kopel about a lawsuit against Colorado's new gun-control laws supported by 55 sheriffs throughout the state; see the suit and more below. Today brings a rebuttal from Colorado Ceasefire's Tom Mauser, who became a gun-control advoca ... More >>

Colorado gun-control laws: Here's why 55 sheriffs think they're illegal

As we noted last week while covering the tragic death of Anastasia Adair, who accidentally killed herself with a new assault rifle, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith and 54 colleagues have joined a complaint against newly passed Colorado gun-control laws, including a ban of all magazines that can ... More >>

THC driving limit's passage means pot critic William Breathes may never drive legally again

Yesterday, a marijuana activist said that a controversial THC driving bill, a version of which failed each of the past two years, appeared to be a lock for passage -- and he was right. The measure breezed through by a 24-11 vote despite what critics describe as an almost total lack of scientific evi ... More >>

THC driving bill up for final reading, activist fears passage after previous failed attempts

Yesterday, most of the drama at the State Capitol involved an Amendment 64 repeal proposal that fell short. But while that was happening, a THC driving standard proposal that had apparently been killed by a Senate committee last month not only rose from the dead but passed two readings. It's headed ... More >>

Colorado Muslim Society denies report it will bury Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Last month's shocking bombing at the Boston Marathon was followed by a manhunt that ended with the arrest of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and the death of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Dzhokhar's older brother and the presumed mastermind of an attack that killed three and injured hundreds. Since then, controversy has ari ... More >>

Marijuana bills loaded with new amendments -- including one to revive THC driving limit

Yesterday, we noted that the marijuana bills needed to implement Amendment 64, which allows adults 21 and over in Colorado to use and possess small amounts of cannabis, would be facing their first tests. But the exams are far from over. The most high-profile of the bills squeaked out of its first c ... More >>

Marijuana: THC driving bill fails for third year -- but will it rise from the dead again?

Earlier this month, the latest version of a THC driving bill that had failed the past two years seemed to be on a steady march to passage despite e-mail protests and petitions. But no: Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-1 to squash the measure again. Why? One advocate believes the l ... More >>

Photos: Barack Obama talks gun control at the Denver Police Academy

As recently as Monday, Representative Rhonda Fields didn't know if she'd be invited to President Barack Obama's Wednesday gun-control talk at the Denver Police Academy. But Fields was on hand along with many other local political heavyweights, including Governor John Hickenlooper, Senate President J ... More >>

Marijuana: THC driving bill breezes through first House vote despite e-mail protests, petition

In a Monday interview with Representative Rhonda Fields, co-sponsor of the latest THC driving bill, we noted that the measure, which is similar to ones that failed the past two years, seemed on a steady march to passage this time around -- and that continues to be the case. The measure passed its f ... More >>

Reader: Gun laws make it more difficult for people who need protection to find it

Our interview with Representative Rhonda Fields found the gun-control advocate arguing against a Colorado boycott touted by some hunters groups. The debate over the issue in our comments section was passionate. In the following post, one reader responds to bill supporters with an argument against th ... More >>

Rhonda Fields on boycott over gun laws, charges for e-mail attacks, Obama visit

Yesterday, we spoke with Representative Rhonda Fields about the THC driving bill she's co-sponsoring; the measure received a favorable report from the House Appropriations Committee and should reach the floor this week. But during our conversation, we also touched on several other topics, including ... More >>

Marijuana: THC driving bill continues steady march to passage

As we've reported, legislation to set THC driving standards in Colorado has failed twice before. However, a new version that also tweaks alcohol DUI rules won unanimous approval during its first House committee hearing in late February. Momentum for the bill has not flagged in the month-plus since ... More >>

Reader: "Retarded A$$hole" and "Dumb C*nt" Facebook tag ugly, but so are gun-control bills

Yesterday, we shared a screen capture from the Denver Post Facebook page showing that a user had tagged a photo of John Hickenlooper and Rhonda Fields at a gun-control bill signing with the phrases "Retarded Asshole" and "Dumb C*nt." We called the language "ugly" -- a word one reader thought could b ... More >>

Photo: User tags Denver Post Facebook gun-bill pic "Retarded A$$hole" and "Dumb C*unt"

Here's proof about how nasty the debate over gun-control legislation has gotten. This morning, the cover photo on the Denver Post's Facebook page was updated to show Governor John Hickenlooper signing gun bills, with Representative Rhonda Fields looking on. A short time later, someone tagged the ima ... More >>

Death penalty battle heats up at the State Capitol

In more than eight hours of emotional testimony that stretched well into the evening, activists and faith groups seeking to abolish the death penalty in Colorado squared off against prosecutors and other backers of the ultimate punishment yesterday -- with family members of homicide victims speaking ... More >>

Video: Rachel Maddow show reports about newspaper's threat against gun-control backer

As we've reported, the debate over Colorado gun-control legislation has gotten ugly, with the most prominent example being executive Franklin Sain's arrest for racist and sexist e-mails sent to Representative Rhonda Fields, whose son was a murder victim. The negative PR garnered by Sain hasn't stop ... More >>

When it comes to threats against officials, does Denver have a double standard?

Franklin Sain's racist and sexist anti-gun control e-mails are protected free speech, attorneys say

Franklin Sain, the government contractor arrested last week after sending racist and sexist e-mails to Representative Rhonda Fields, a prominent backer of gun-control legislation (see our previous coverage below), has now been formally charged with two counts, including harassment-ethnic intimidatio ... More >>

Gun control: Senator Morgan Carroll on disruption at Aurora town hall

The debate over gun control continues to get ugly. The same week Franklin Sain was arrested for sending Representative Rhonda Fields allegedly harassing, racist e-mails vocal, pro-gun audience members at an Aurora Town Hall meeting antagonized Senator Morgan Carroll, who felt the need for a securit ... More >>

Franklin Sain, accused of racist threats against gun-control backer, should be fired, says NAACP

As we reported yesterday, CEO Franklin Sain was arrested over threatening e-mails to state rep and gun-control advocate Rhonda Fields; see examples below. (Warning: They're explicit.) The firm for which Sain works has now suspended him, but that's not enough for the region's NAACP affiliate. The org ... More >>

Franklin Sain to gun-control backers: "Hopefully somebody Giffords both of your asses"

The subject of guns can inflame emotions. But Colorado Springs-based Franklin Sain is accused of letting those passions get out of control. He's been formally accused of harassment and more via e-mails sent to Representative Rhonda Fields, a gun-control advocate whose son was murdered, including one ... More >>

Marijuana: Would THC driving bill help people busted for alcohol DUIs beat the rap?

At this writing, HB 13-1114, a bill to set THC driving-impairment standards, is being debated by the House judiciary committee -- and it differs substantially from the version that failed twice before. This time, the THC limit is part of wide-ranging legislation that makes changes in the way driving ... More >>

Gun policies: Colorado Democrats propose sweeping changes

Colorado Democrat leaders proposed an array of gun control measures today that would lead to comprehensive state policy changes. The proposed legislation addresses assault-rifle ownership, modernizing the current background check system, a high-capacity magazine ban and strengthening mental health ... More >>

Linda Newell joins parade of Dems considering 2014 challenge to Mike Coffman

Denver blog posts almost forgot what snow looked like.... Colorado Pols shares Senator Linda Newell's quasi-announcement about a possible run against Congressman Mike Coffman. She joins buzzed-about potential candidates such as Andrew Romanoff, Karen Middleton and Rhonda Fields. Plants & Animals D ... More >>

Gun legislation: Claire Levy's bill would enact real-time data transfer of mental-health records

As the debate around gun policy and mental health heats up in Colorado and across the country, Representative Claire Levy, a Boulder Democrat, is pushing forward with a bill that she says would help keep weapons out of the hands of the wrong people. The legislation would establish real-time data tra ... More >>

Justin Smith, Larimer County sheriff, says he won't enforce "unconstitutional" gun laws

In recent days, President Barack Obama has proposed new gun control laws following the Sandy Hook shooting -- and Colorado lawmakers such as Representative Rhonda Fields are backing similar measures. The trend clearly concerns Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, who's now announced that his office ... More >>

Gun bill to require background checks: "Enough is enough," says Rhonda Fields

With President Obama unveiling sweeping gun control proposals and New York swiftly passing the nation's toughest gun laws, it's time for Colorado to push forward with its own legislation to curb violence. At least that's the thinking of Representative Rhonda Fields, who next week will introduce a bi ... More >>

Death penalty: Representative Claire Levy says she is confident a repeal could pass

Before Representative Claire Levy proposes legislation to repeal the death penalty in Colorado, she wants to be sure that it can pass. And after more discussions with her fellow lawmakers on the topic, she says it seems like the momentum is right to get rid of the death penalty -- even if one of h ... More >>

Rep. Lois Court: Fees for gun background checks could help fund mental health services

Since the tragic mass shootings in Newtown, Connecticut left twenty children dead, there has been a renewed discussion on gun policy in Colorado as lawmakers prep for the legislative session. And we now have details on one idea that links the debates around gun access and mental health. Representati ... More >>

Video: Flash mob planned today at Denver Canadian 
Consulate
 in
 support of First Nations

In what may be Denver's last protest of 2012, a flash mob is gathering this morning at the Canadian Consulate by the 16th Street Mall in support of Theresa Spence, the chief of the Attawapiskat First Nation, who has been on a hunger strike for more than twenty days. For a taste of the noise expected ... More >>

Gun policy: Democrats to push bill requiring fees for firearm background checks

Since the shootings in Connecticut that left twenty elementary school students dead, there has been an unprecedented surge in Colorado gun sales. The demand is so overwhelming that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation says it needs more money for background checks. And now Democrats in the legislatu ... More >>

Rep. Rhonda Fields on push to repeal death penalty: "An insult to crime victims"

Representative Rhonda Fields, an Aurora Democrat, generally sides with liberal lawmakers in Colorado. But when it comes to a possible repeal of the death penalty, she is unwavering in her opposition. Getting rid of the death penalty would be an insult to crime victims and ill-timed given recent horr ... More >>

Photos: Aurora, Columbine families hold emotional conference urging gun reforms

After a week of silence since the Sandy Hook massacre, the National Rifle Association today said that more guns need to be part of the strategy to stop this kind of violence. Meanwhile, families of the victims of the Aurora shooting and the Columbine tragedy came together for an emotional press conf ... More >>

THC driving bill, take three: Read draft language of proposed 2013 legislation

For the third year in a row, state lawmakers will be pushing for an official marijuana DUI limit, to curb what they say is an epidemic of stoned drivers that will only get worse with the passage of Amendment 64. Senator Steve King, a Western Slope Republican, is again sponsoring the legislation, whi ... More >>

Despite a tragic summer, Colorado is still the real sunshine state

Also read: Fifty latest reasons Colorado is the best state in the country

Aurora theater shooting: One vigil tonight at 7 p.m., another Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Update, July 20, 5:45 p.m.: There are now two vigils planned for the victims of the Aurora Century 16 theater shooting. One, at 7 p.m. tonight, is being hosted by local clergy members, according to Aurora Representative Rhonda Fields, who announced this morning that she'd be hosting a vigil tonight. ... More >>

Aurora theater shooting: Hundreds gather and say prayers at vigil

Nineteen hours after James Holmes fired shots during a midnight screening of The Dark Night Rises -- bringing national media attention to Aurora and Colorado -- hundreds gathered near the Aurora Town Center Century 16 this evening to honor the twelve individuals who died and dozens more who were inj ... More >>

Jenna Breen and Tim Albo hit-and-run updates: Preliminary hearing, new legislation

We've been following a pair of tragic hit-and-run cases -- the January death of Jenna Breen and the horrific injuries inflicted on Tim Albo in 2010. There are new developments in both stories, including a hearing for the man accused of killing Breen and Albo-inspired legislation intended to give dru ... More >>

How victim rights became a juggernaut shaping spending, laws and the future of punishment

National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims: Loved ones share their loss (VIDEO)

Michael Hancock.​Grief doesn't respect demographic boundaries, and the devastating impact of a homicide in the family can be found in all walks of life. On Monday, a coalition of victim groups gathered outside the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse downtown to remember lost loved ones and listen to a ... More >>

Brandon Mondragon does less time in jail than his hit-&-run victim, Tim Albo, spent in rehab

Tim Albo.​Last October, Tim Albo was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that left him in a coma. Brandon Mondragon was charged and convicted of the crime, but Albo's family was frustrated that he only got six months. And they're even more upset now that Mondragon's punishment ended this week ... More >>

Hit-and-run victim Tim Albo's family seeks mandatory sentences for drunk drivers who split

Tim Albo.​Last October, Tim Albo was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that left him in a coma; companion Heather Kornman was also badly injured. And while the driver, Brandon Mondragon, was subsequently charged and convicted of the crime, his six-month sentence so frustrated Albo's family ... More >>

Rhonda Fields creates teen advisory council, wants students to help make Aurora better

Rhonda Fields.​Representative Rhonda Fields is out to put a positive face on the youth of Aurora. After hosting the first Teens Turning Political Summit at the Community College of Aurora earlier this month, Fields and her team have created a teen advisory council, composed of eighteen stude ... More >>

Javad Marshall-Fields/Vivian Wolfe CSU scholarship endowed 5 years after their murders

Marshall-Fields and Wolfe were engaged.​Rhonda Fields says nothing could ever fill the void left when her son, Javad Marshall-Fields, a material witness in a murder case, was gunned down in Aurora in 2005. But she says Marshall-Fields lives on through a scholarship at CSU, which she struggled ... More >>