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Colorado Leaders, Citizens React To News Of Bin Laden's Death

DENVER (CBS4) - A handful of people in Denver came out late Sunday night to celebrate after the announcement by President Barack Obama that Osama bin Laden is dead.

They waved flags at the Capitol and asked passing drivers to honk.

"We came here tonight because it's the right thing to do. We saw the guys in D.C. doing it and we said Denver can not be left out. I don't care -- I'm probably going to be out here until 3 in the morning. That's patriotism, baby!" Emmanuel Perez said.

Full Coverage On The Death Of Osama bin Laden On CBSNews.com.

"We finally got justice," Jacob Caldwell said. "The message we want to send is that America is great. We do what we say we do. We delivered on our promise: we brought justice to a man who has plagued the world for many years and has been taunting America."

Colorado leaders were talking about the event after the announcement by President Barack Obama, too. Rep. Mark Coffman shared the following thoughts with CBS4 by phone:

"My first reaction is certainly that it brings closure to 9/11. It doesn't bring closure to the War on Terror. That's far from being over with. But I think the American people can rest tonight a little bit better knowing that Osama bin Laden has received justice," Rep. Mark Coffman said.

Sen. Mark Udall told CBS4 the event is "enormously important."

"The War on Terror won't end because of this event, but the founder of al Qaeda, of modern 21st century terrorism, has been brought to justice," Sen. Mark Udall said.

Coffman said he is proud of the way in the years since 9/11 American forces have been able to put "continual pressure on (bin Laden's) organization" and thereby has been able to prevent them from initiating major attacks against the United States anymore.

Dominic Dezzutti's Blog: Bin Laden's Death A Game Changer


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