Sheriffs and district attorneys testifying at a heated Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday warned of criminals walking the streets freely alongside victims under a Democrat bill that would go easier on juvenile offenders.

House Bill 1208, sponsored by Democrat Rep. Claire Levy, of Boulder, and Longmont Democrat Sen. Brandon Shaffer, comes to the Senate following similarly intense opposition from House Republicans days earlier.

"This bill is like a get-out-of-jail-free card for some of Colorado's most heinous gang-bangers," said Republican Sen. Greg Brophy, of Wray, as he watched the debate.

The measure would prevent district attorneys from filing adult charges against 14- and 15-year-olds. District Attorneys could still file charges against 16- to-18-year-olds, but the accused could challenge the filing and request a hearing, even years after being found guilty.

"District Attorneys need more tools, not less," said Republican Sen. Scott Renfroe, of Greeley, moments after Democrats on the  committee approved the measure on a party-line vote. "We should let the people who are most qualified and experienced make these decisions."

Ignoring pleas from law enforcement, majority Democrats on a Senate committee turned down a GOP effort today to get Congress to make good on its promise and crack down on illegal immigration along our nation's borders.

On a party-line vote, the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs killed Senate Joint Memorial 2, sponsored by Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, and Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma. It would have called on Congress to release funding to fully implement the Secure Fence Act of 2006--a bill that was passed by Congress and signed by the president.

The resolution, co-sponsored by most Republicans in the General Assembly, is a response to the apparent bottleneck that has put the Secure Fence Act on hold in Congress since Democrats took control of that body in November 2006.

The congressional act authorized the construction of over 700 miles of two-layered fencing along the southwest border of the United States.  Attacks against U.S. Border Patrol Agents reportedly went down as a result of two-layered fencing that has been erected in some locations along the U.S.-Mexican border.  Attempts made by illegal aliens to cross the border have also gone down in areas where the two-layered fencing was constructed.

"Our legislation would have sent an important message to Congress by the people of Colorado to abide by a law it passed,” said Kopp.  “I think it is imperative that the fence be built to begin regaining operational control of our border.”