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Lit_Match

Pro-pot crowd shouts down Owens
10-27-06|RockyMountainNews|By David Montero

They weren’t mellow or takin’ it easy when Gov. Bill Owens talked on the Capitol steps Friday morning in opposition to a statewide ballot measure seeking to legalize marijuana possession.
About 50 people of all ages shouted him down as he and Attorney General John Suthers cited statistics declaring pot dangerous.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a sad day for Colorado," Owens said. And then he had to repeat what he said over the chant, "What do we want? A safer choice. When do we want it? Now."

Suthers couldn’t even be heard much of the time he spoke.

For about four minutes, he plowed through data showing the dangers of marijuana, but it was lost in the din of another chant, "Hey, ho, you say drink, we say no."

The crowd never let up and cheered when Suthers finished his speech. They taunted the governor: "Lie louder Bill, we can’t hear you."

Owens and Suthers were also joined by Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener, who became famous during the Platt Canyon High School shooting in Bailey that resulted in the sexual assault of several girls and the murder of 16-year-old Emily Keyes.

Wegener tried to link the amendment to the tragedy.

"What about the possibilities of this individual being a pilot or a bus driver?" he asked the crowd. "The potential consequences of their actions are too horrific to ignore. Couldn’t happen? That’s what was said about a school shooting in Bailey."

The crowd jeered.

Amendment 44, the ballot measure that seeks to legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older, has been largely opposed by law enforcement officials. On the steps, a line of uniformed officers, including sheriff’s and police chiefs, watched the chanting crowd mock most of the speakers.

Amendment 44 sponsor Mason Tvert said the elected officials and law enforcement officers were being disingenuous.

"Clearly they haven’t done their jobs. They haven’t educated people about drugs," Tvert said. "They’ve simply pushed people from one drug they don’t like to the other one they do."

 

Rumblerod

Clearly Bill Owens (Gov. R. Colorado) was out classed on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Bldg. Mason Tvert really put it to him and the Governor (Bill Owens Lame Duck) was speechless. The crowd was all pro 44 which left Bill there to preach to the choir. What was really funny though was watching it on 9 news (conservative right wing Republican mouthpiece) when the Colorado state Trooper got up there and really couldn't say anything intelligent and finally just had to step away from the microphone. I think that clearly Proposition 44 shows us how really pissed off the entire country is with the Republican party, and how fed up we are with right wing politics, and trickle down economics. I'm neither Democrat nor Republican, but I am registered, and I am ready to vote for the issue and candidate of MY choice instead of listening to the bible thumping religeous right.

Nugget Lover

Why is Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener against marijuana only, considering all vehicle manuals say "do not use while under the influence of drugs."
Does he think its ok for pilots and school bus drivers to consume alcohol?