PUEBLO – Unlike so many other places in southern Colorado Pueblo won’t be declaring itself a 2nd Amendment sanctuary city, at least for now.
On Monday night a resolution to become a 2nd Amendment sanctuary city died during a Pueblo City Council meeting.
Councilman Mark Aliff introduced the resolution, but after it didn’t get a second motion it was shut down. The whole thing took less than five minutes.
Rita Marquez said, “I feel incredible. I had my speech all made, but I was so glad I didn’t have to give it because I’m so proud of Pueblo.”
It’s a win for Marquez who’s worked with a lot of gun violence survivors. She’s the survivor engagement lead for Moms Demand Action.
“There haven’t been any safeguards and look at everyday – there are mass shootings.”
On the other side of the issue is Marla Reichert, chairman of the Pueblo County Republican Party.
“We’re here to stop this travesty and what just happened in that room was a travesty. People on both sides came to speak to our elected leaders and were just shut down. We weren’t even allowed to be heard.”
What she wanted to tell council members: the constitutional concerns of this bill and her own story.
“My life and the life of my then toddler daughter was saved because I had a firearm. I was able to hold an attacker at bay until the police could arrive.”
While a battle she and so many others are fighting was lost in Pueblo on Monday, Reichert said, “We’re going to keep fighting at the state legislature.”
As for Marquez, she said, “If this is the law you follow it and it’s going to keep us safer. It really is.”
There was no public comment on this resolution. Councilman Dennis Flores stated that since the motion was not moved forward, legally, there was no need to bring forth the public forum section. However, Councilman Aliff said people should have had the opportunity to speak.
