already out there," and that "the next shooter is already planning that attack."

He spent much of his time during the town hall defending some of his previous votes, including for a bill last year to require states to accept concealed-carry permits from other, less-regulated states and another for a bill rolling back an Obama administration rule confiscating guns from people judged not competent enough to manage their Social Security benefits. Coffman contended it was a civil rights issue and noted the American Civil Liberties Union and disability rights groups supported the rollback, a statement that also drew hearty boos.

"I cannot understand how somebody who represented the district that has the Aurora theater in it can say this is a bad idea," Alex Tillman, 48, who works in riskmanagement, told Coffman.

Coffman said was going to meet with school safety and law enforcement officials and suggested the government beef up school security - another statement that infuriated the audience. Asked what he would do if he found his personal principles conflicting with the desires of his constituents, Coffman drew more boos when he said he thought they matched pretty well.

"The angriest voices show up, I get that," Coffman said. "I respect the views of the people here and it's helpful to me, but often times it's not the views of the totality of the district."