Colorado GOP keeps Dem lawmaker on hotseat over rape comments during gun debate

House Republicans are not satisfied with an apology Monday from Democratic Rep. Joe Salazar, who said Friday that women on college campuses shouldn’t be trusted with firearms to protect themselves because they might fire carelessly upon feeling threatened.

On Tuesday morning, House Republicans issued a press release asking Gov. John Hickenlooper and Speaker Mark Ferrandino to “condemn” Salazar’s comment.

“Questioning a woman’s judgment over whether or not she is about to be raped is insensitive and insulting to women everywhere,” said Rep. Polly Lawrence, R-Littleton, in the statement emailed to reporters Tuesday.

“No matter what sort of policy position you’re trying to advance, questioning the rational ability of women to perceive threats around them is something Democrat leaders should condemn.”

Salazar, D-Thornoton, issued a formal apology Monday after his statement during Friday’s debate over a concealed weapons ban on college campuses drew the ire of conservatives across the blogosphere after a video of his comments gathered steam online.

In arguing in favor of the ban, Salazar, D-Thornton, said Friday that women on college campuses don’t need guns to feel that they’re safe.

“It’s why we have call boxes, it’s why we have safe zones, it’s why we have the whistles,” Salazar said on the House floor. “Because you just don’t know who you’re gonna be shooting at. And you don’t know if you feel like you’re gonna be raped, or if you feel like someone’s been following you around or if you feel like you’re in trouble when you may actually not be, that you pop out that gun and you pop … pop around at somebody.” ...

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