might be praised more around the fireplaces in million dollar ski cabins in aspen. cnn s ana cabrera has more. reporter: welcome to northern colorado. some 60 miles outside of denver. no hustle and bustle of city life here. i saw the struggles that my grandparents, my parents went through to create what i believe is an oasis in the desert. i see that oasis in the desert threatened. reporter: county commissioner shawn conway is a third generation coloradon, raised on a ranch, fighting for his rural lifestyle and livelihood. we re tired of being ignored, tired of being politically disenfranchised. reporter: that s the message, fed up with new gun control laws, expanded oil and gas regulations and increased renewable energy standards recently enacted at the colorado capitol, conway is leading the charge to form a new state.