GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- A Gunnison lawmaker is asking the Colorado State Patrol for extra protection due to threats she said she's received since gaveling down on a fellow member of the House of Representatives.

Gunnison Democrat Kathleen Curry said she has been bombarded with threatening e-mails and telephone messages since bringing down the gavel Monday. She was responding to a comment made by Colorado Springs Republican Rep. Douglas Bruce, who referred to Mexican immigrants as "illiterate peasants."

Curry gaveled down and said "How dare you!" after Bruce's remark, then told him he was no longer recognized to speak at the podium.

Curry said the amount of hate mail she's received is "off the charts." The State Patrol will also monitor her family's ranch in Gunnison.

7NEWS has learned she's not the only lawmaker receiving threats. Republicans and Democrats who have spoken out about Bruce's remarks have also received hate mail.

Bruce also told 7NEWS he has received more than 900 e-mails, and many of them were threatening in nature.

It's not known what action will be taken against Bruce because of his remarks. Some lawmakers are considering everything from chastising him to filing a formal ethics complaint that would require a hearing and possible suspension, censure or expulsion.

Meanwhile, those who work as day laborers and seasonal workers are protesting comments made by Bruce. They say Bruce's comments are derogatory and insulting and planned a rally Thursday afternoon.

"I think he should be punished. I think he should be thrown out of the Legislature. People like him -- we don't need. This is a person who assaults other people like he did with that reporter. He is no good for us, for Colorado," said Harold Lassao, with El Centro Humanitario.

El Centro Humanitario is where day laborers go to get jobs, training and education. Lassao said farm workers are skilled and some of them are ex-military members.

Lassao said the group plans to work toward booting Bruce out of the office. The Colorado Human Rights Coalition is holding a conference in Denver over the weekend and that is when the group will formalize a plan to kick him out of office, Lassao said.

Bruce's comments came as lawmakers were debating a bill that would allow the state to help immigrant workers get temporary visas from the federal government. The bill is designed to ease a shortage of farm workers in Colorado.

Bruce said, "I would like to have the opportunity to state at the microphone why I don't think we need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in Colorado."

"Rep. Bruce, you are no longer recognized in the well," Curry interrupted.

Bruce is familiar with controversy. The Republican from Colorado Springs was the first Colorado lawmaker censured by the House after he kicked a newspaper photographer for taking his picture during a prayer. Republicans later removed him from the powerful State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee because he refused to co-sponsor a resolution honoring military veterans.