CO Sheriffs Who Question Gun Laws Punished By Pay Delay

Politics, Mafia-style

One of a handful of Colorado sheriffs who oppose several gun control bills working their way through the state legislature claims lawmakers are threatening the salaries of sheriffs to punish them for their position.

The clash comes as pro-gun control elected leaders seek tighter restrictions on firearms in the wake of the Aurora movie massacre last summer and the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Conn. El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa, while saying he would be obliged to enforce new law, publicly said he would willfully ignore a ban on high-capacity magazines and may even sue to overturn new laws he deems unconstitutional. Now, he says a bill that would raise sheriffs' salaries is being held up at the Capitol and he knows why.

"Senate Dems have made it known, 'Sheriffs, obey or no pay for you,'" Maketa said. "The first word that comes to my mind is extortion."