Governor discusses red flag bill during Friday visit to Colorado Springs
Tours of businesses and a luncheon speech were among the activities attended Friday in Colorado Springs by Gov. Jared Polis.
Before arriving in town, Polis helped introduce a bill in the Legislature that would allocate $185 million to provide 5,000 kids with free full-day kindergarten — part of his goal of making it available to all children in the state.
” For it to be free, the districts have to take money from other grades to basically supplement the half-day funding that the state provides, ” he said. ” What we’re saying is very simple. The state should fund kindergarten just like it does first grade or second grade. ”
Polis’ first stop in Colorado Springs was at Kratos RT Logic, a growing satellite communications firm on the city’s north side.
Polis next stopped at the Cybersecurity Center in Colorado Springs.
He then delivered a lunchtime speech to several hundred people at the Antlers Hotel, for the Chamber of Commerce’s regional state of the state address.
In a private interview, Polis spoke with KRDO NewsChannel 13 about the controversy surrounding the Legislature’s proposed red flag bill, which would allow authorities to seize the guns of mentally ill owners.
The bill has passed the House and is being considered in the Senate. Both houses have a Democratic majority, and Polis is a Democrat.
Of the state’s 64 counties, 25 oppose or have considered opposing the bill.
” I hope (lawmakers) are listening to the concerns and addressing them, ” Polis said. ” I think we all want to make sure there’s a tool that can be used when needed. We also want to make sure it’s not used inappropriately. I think it can make us safer. Many states have it. It’s consistent with the Second Amendment (guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms). ”
Polis expressed no concern about the possibility of recall efforts against him because of the red flag bill and the recent passage of a bill awarding the state’s Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote, instead of to the candidate who wins the most state votes.
” There’s always losers in sports and politics, ” he said. ” We’re just focused on our agenda of making life better for all Coloradans. ”
Polis didn’t mention the red flag bill or the popular vote bill during his speech Friday, but emphasized the importance of the all-day kindergarten bill.
