Colorado Lawmaker Ordered to Remove Second Amendment Sticker from Laptop: 'Offensive'

A Republican lawmaker from Colorado found himself in a rather peculiar situation when Democratic colleagues asked him to remove a sticker supporting the Second Amendment from his laptop in the state's House chamber. The sticker, emblazoned with the phrase "shall not be infringed" and signed "2-A," apparently crossed some invisible line of decorum.

State Rep. Ken DeGraaf, a Republican, expressed his disbelief on the House floor, pointing to the paper now covering the sticker. "I had to cover up this; they couldn't stand my sticker," he remarked. His tone carried both frustration and a touch of sarcasm as he explained the move was due to the sticker being deemed offensive. "Which I understand would be offensive to this bill," he quipped, referring to the controversial gun control legislation under debate.

The contested legislation, Colorado Senate Bill 25-003, aims to impose some of the toughest gun control restrictions in the U.S. by limiting the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms, such as those relying on detachable magazines like the AR-15. Democratic lawmakers argue the bill is a necessary step to curb gun violence and ensure public safety.

"Preventing gun violence is one of the most effective ways that we can make our communities safer and save lives," said state Rep. Meg Froelich, one of the bill's Democratic sponsors. "Semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines are uniquely lethal and dangerous." Froelich added that the bill represents common-sense measures such as requiring effective training, background checks, and waiting periods before purchasing certain firearms.

The legislation has already passed the state Senate and a second reading in the House, with a final vote expected soon. However, it has faced strong opposition from Republican lawmakers like DeGraaf, who view it as a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

During his remarks, DeGraaf accused his Democratic colleagues of being offended by constitutional principles, pointing to the forced removal of his sticker as a prime example. When informed that the request stemmed from a rule prohibiting displays in the chamber's "well," he shot back, "So OK, no displays of the Constitution in the well, got it." It's safe to say sarcasm remains alive and well in Colorado politics.