Coffman Gets Booed Over Guns at Town Hall Meeting
Criticized for votes on concealed carry and mental health restrictions
Republican Rep. Mike Coffman was criticized at a town hall event in Greenwood Village, Colorado, for not taking action on guns.
Coffman, a perennial target for Democrats, was booed when he said “reasonable restrictions within the parameters of the Second Amendment,” The Associated Press reported.
The Republican declined to support an assault weapons ban, but did say he would consider a law that would temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Coffman faced questions about his voting record, including his support of a bill to require states to accept concealed carry permits from other states.
Attendees also criticized him for voting for legislation that rolled back an Obama administration-era rule that would have prevented people who weren’t able to manage their Social Security benefits from obtaining guns.
Constituents booed Coffman at the event at a high school when he said the American Civil Liberties Union and disability rights groups supported the move.
Patti Seno’s husband was a firefighter on the scene of the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton in 1999 just outside of Coffman’s district. And her son was supposed to see “The Dark Knight Rises” in 2012 the night a gunman opened fire in a movie theater in Aurora in the district, she said.
“I am ashamed, as it took children to shake me from my comfort zone to come forward to say enough is enough,” Seno said.
The town hall came the week after a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Laura Chapin, a Democratic strategist in the state, said Democrats should keep the pressure on Coffman when it comes to guns.
“It would be smart of Democrats to go after Mike Coffman’s hypocrisy,” she said.
But Republican strategist and Coffman adviser Josh Penry said gun control might not resonate in Colorado. In 2014 two state Democratic lawmakers were recalled after voting for gun laws.
“There’s this basic understanding that Congress passing a lot of laws isn’t going to stop evil people from committing evil acts,” Perry said.
Watch: Pelosi and Ryan Address Gun Violence at Weekly Pressers
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Correction 11:34 a.m.| A previous version of this story misspelled Josh Penry’s name.