A Democrat attempt to permanently establish a statewide concealed-carry weapon’s permit list was approved today in a Senate committee.

House Bill 1174, by Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, and Rep. Al White, R-Winter Park, was up for action only and passed through the Judiciary Committee on a 4-3 party-line vote.

Republican Senators Shawn Mitchell, of Broomfield, Steve Ward, of Littleton, and Scott Renfroe, of Greeley, voted against the proposal. They suggested that the measure allows for the potential of abuse and harassment by law-enforcement officers during routine traffic stops.

“People should not have to be tracked within a government list for exercising their right of self-protection,” Mitchell said.

Bacon defined HB 1174 as a “simple-little bill,” and argued that information the concealed weapons database provides is vital to the public.

An amendment offered to the measure by Bacon today prohibits any effort by police officers to create probable cause by viewing the database as a means to pull over a driver. The amendment passed unanimously prior to the final vote on the bill.

Ward mentioned that he was OK with patrol officers questioning people – for their safety – during a traffic stop on whether individuals have a firearm in their vehicle.

The senator also noted that cataloging law-abiding citizens who are gun owners is “outrageous.”

“We haven’t heard any testimony of an officer being at risk by someone who is on this database,” Ward added.

HB 1174 is en route to the full Senate for consideration.