Colorado State Sen. Evie Hudak (D) resigns before recall petition deadline

[lostinblue 1,989]

Colorado State Sen. Evie Hudak (D) resigns before recall petition deadline

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. - Colorado State Senator Evie Hudak (D) resigned on Wednesday, effective immediately. Hudak was facing a possible recall election because of her support for new gun control measures.

"In the interest of preserving the progress made over the last year, I am resigning as State Senator for District 19," Hudak wrote in a letter to the Secretary of the Senate.

Hudak's Democratic colleagues, Senate President John Morse and Sen. Angela Giron, were ousted in similar recall elections in September.

Hudak voted to pass House Bills 1224 and 1229. HB 1224 controversially limited the number of rounds allowed in a magazine, while 1229 expanded background checks for gun buyers.

In her resignation letter, Hudak called the work "sensible gun-safety legislation."

"I believe these bills will make life better for all the people of my district and for all Coloradans."

A group attempted to recall Hudak in April, but failed to get enough signatures to force an election. The latest recall group had 60 days to get 18,900 valid signatures. Those signatures were due next week.

"She has infringed upon our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. She has voted to make all citizens less safe and to drive hundreds of jobs from Colorado," the petition language said, according to Mike McAlpine, a spokesman for the group.

Hudak said she is stepping aside to save taxpayers the $200,000 cost of a special election. However, our partners at the Denver Post reported if Hudak was recalled and a Republican won the seat, Democrats would lose control of the Colorado Senate. With Morse and Giron recalled and Republicans taking their seats, Democrats now only have an 18-17 edge.

Hudak initially called the recall effort "a small group seeking to undo the will of voters, who re-elected me to the Senate last November. Unable to defeat me then, they are now attempting a political power grab using a low voter turnout, no mail ballot recall election strategy. The perpetual recall of legislators that we are now seeing is an obstacle to governing and addressing the needs of Coloradans, especially those impacted by devastating floods."

Wednesday, she said it was difficult to step aside.

Hudak got national attention in March for her comments during the debate over House Bill 1226 which would ban concealed weapons on Colorado college campuses. Hudak told a testifying rape victim that even if she had a gun, her attacker might have been able to get away from her.

"Statistics are not on your side," Hudak said. "Even if you had had a gun, you said that you were a martial arts student -- I mean person -- experienced in Tae Kwon Do, and yet because this individual was so large, (he) was able to overcome you, even with your skills. And chances are that if you had had a gun then, he would have been able to get that from you and possibly use it against you."

"Respectfully Senator, you weren't there," said victim Amanda Collins. "Had I been carrying concealed, he wouldn't have known that I had my weapon. I know without a doubt in my mind, at some point I would have been able to stop my attack by using my firearm."

Later Collins told 7NEWS, "I don't know if I felt more victimized or patronized. It was quiet. You could have heard a pin drop. I think people were flabbergasted."

Collins said Hudak did apologize afterwards.

"She apologized for upsetting me and said that she shouldn't have said that," said Collins.

Hudak also sent 7NEWS the following statement:

"I didn't mean to be insensitive towards Amanda Collins' experience. I respect the courage it took for the witnesses to share their heartbreaking stories. Amanda was reflecting on her experience and asked the committee if having a gun would have made her safer. I realize now it was a rhetorical question.

"Amid this emotional testimony, my goal was to share research data about the increased danger of having a gun in an assault. As a domestic violence victim advocate, I know that for every one woman that used a handgun to kill someone in self-defense, 83 were murdered by them. My timing was not the best for making the point. I'm glad I had the opportunity to offer Amanda a sincere apology in a private conversation."

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/colorado-state-sen-evie-hudak-d-resigns-before-recall-petition-deadline

With kenyan kare and the attack on the 2nd amendment liberals are running for any cover they can get under. Next election will be interesting.

[Ban Hammer 13,594]

"Statistics are not on your side," Hudak said. "Even if you had had a gun, you said that you were a martial arts student -- I mean person -- experienced in Tae Kwon Do, and yet because this individual was so large, (he) was able to overcome you, even with your skills. And chances are that if you had had a gun then, he would have been able to get that from you and possibly use it against you."

the arrogance of some lawmakers amazes me.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Ah yes, Kenyan Kare with a K!

[GandD 5,966]

They had to get 18,900 signatures for a recall it seems. I didn't see where it said how close they were. Must have been fairly close if she decided to step down.

[lostinblue 1,989]

The only reason she is resigning is because the democrats are keenly aware of the strong chance they will lose the recall, and possibly lose the seat. By resigning, they can appoint another democratic person to the post, and thereby retain their majority.

[GandD 5,966]

Yeah I get that part, but if they weren't going to have enough signatures for a recall, why would it even matter?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ah yes, Kenyan Kare with a K!

Naturally.

[lostinblue 1,989]

independent voters in Colorado oppose the new gun control laws 61% – 33%.

[GandD 5,966]

None of that matters if they couldn't get enough support for a recall.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

independent voters in Colorado oppose the new gun control laws 61% – 33%.

Colorado voters merely oppose a phrase - "stricter new gun control laws" - but they actually support the specific common sense measures that were passed in Colorado.

And Colorado voters oppose recalls by even wider margins.

According to the poll, Colorado voters oppose "the stricter new gun control laws" in the state 55-40 percent, but when asked specifically about two of the states new gun control laws, voters flipped.

When asked about universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers, those surveyed overwhelmingly approved, 85-14. And when asked about the statewide ban on high capacity magazines that hold more than 15 rounds, voters still approve, albeit by a very slim margin, 49-48.

"Voters don't like gun control, or maybe they just don't like the words, 'gun control,'" said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "There's some support for limiting multi-round magazines, and overwhelming support for background checks."

...Colorado voters strongly oppose the recall effort against Hudak, 49-38. And by an even larger margin, they oppose any recall efforts for legislators with whom they don't agree, saying 57-36 that organizers should wait for the regular election.

[Pooky 3,840]

Colorado voters merely oppose a phrase - "stricter new gun control laws" - but they actually support the specific common sense measures that were passed in Colorado.

And Colorado voters oppose recalls by even wider margins.

Recalls are a crappy way to play politics, but both sides seem intent on using them more and more.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

the arrogance of some lawmakers amazes me.

The fact of her statement, however upsetting to the witness aside, stands. The idiocy of believing having a gun 'might have' assisted this victim flies in the face of statistical fact. But don't let it shake your hubris. It might have, sure, or the rapist might have found and taken it, perhaps ending the horrific rape with a convenient murder weapon supplied by the victim. That is the statistically more likely 'what if.'

[SMOKE 1,426]

The fact of her statement, however upsetting to the witness aside, stands. The idiocy of believing having a gun 'might have' assisted this victim flies in the face of statistical fact. But don't let it shake your hubris. It might have, sure, or the rapist might have found and taken it, perhaps ending the horrific rape with a convenient murder weapon supplied by the victim. That is the statistically more likely 'what if.'

there are statistics on rape victims with a gun stopping the attack vs. them getting raped & having their own gun used on them?

please post a link.

[GandD 5,966]

Recalls are a crappy way to play politics, but both sides seem intent on using them more and more.

Its awesome if you're a party of maintaining the status quo. Not so much if you want to change anything......ever.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Like it or not (and who cares if you like it or not?) Gun control has been made into a "third rail" issue. This is why you will not see any new Federal Gun laws and why few states will pass them. This issue has been fixed, settled and put away. The few laws passed by states will be oveturned either by legislation from newly elected representatives or by litigation. SCOTUS decisions work for me.

Colorado has had only two recalls in its history, both over guns and both were recalled. This is also why Governor Brown backed off further gun bans in California. The BS statistics count ONLY the killing of assailants as successful self defense. It has been so thoroughly debunked only spittle lickers still give it any credence...elected representatives give it NONE.

The issue is settled law and I have no need to argue with idiots. If you don't like it...tough shitski. Call 911 to have a stranger bring a gun when you get assaulted.