Like Ventura, a former professional wrestler who stunned the nation by being elected governor of Minnesota in 1998, Stanley says he will surprise Colorado and become the first Libertarian elected to the U.S. Senate.

"I seriously think I can win," Stanley said last week. "There are more Independents and people who don't vote than all of the registered Democrats and Republicans combined. Jesse Ventura won in Minnesota with 36 percent of the vote. So it can be done."

Perhaps, but much must happen before Stanley, a 47-year-old small-business owner, joins the country's most exclusive club. For starters, he must defeat Colorado Springs resident Steve D'Ippolito for the Senate spot when Colorado's Libertarian Party holds its convention next week in Leadville.

Should he win that nomination, Stanley would have to best Republican incumbent Sen. Wayne Allard and the likely Democratic challenger, former U.S. Attorney Tom Strickland, in November.

Stanley goes on trial Wednesday in Denver court, where he faces a $1,000 fine and a possible year in jail for deliberately violating a gun ordinance during a Second Amendment rally last year.

Stanley spent a night in jail in December after he put a loaded .38-caliber handgun in a holster at the conclusion of his speech marking the 210th anniversary of the Second Amendment.

The act of civil disobedience violated a Denver ordinance that forbids anyone but police from carrying deadly weapons. The law does not apply to those who have concealed weapons permits or are traveling through Denver with a gun.

The Denver law has been upheld by the Colorado Court of Appeals, but Stanley considers it unconstitutional. He brought the gun to the rally on purpose. He wanted to be charged and tried so he could challenge the law.

Stanley said he is no "gun nut." He said the gun he wore that day had been in a drawer for 17 years. He said he opposes gun laws and believes America has become a police state.

"The supreme law of the land is the Constitution," Stanley said. "I have a right to keep and bear arms, but I am charged and face a year in jail. If we don't have a police state, why was I thrown in jail?"

Stanley's stance earned him some respect among Libertarians.

"You've got to admire the guy's courage for being willing to stand up for the Second Amendment," D'Ippolito said. "I don't think anyone in the Libertarian Party has an issue with that whatsoever."

D'Ippolito expects the upcoming trial will play well with Libertarians.

"Every Libertarian thinks the Denver gun law is a crock," he said. "Our ethic is live and let live. If you simply carry a firearm, whom does it harm? If there is no victim, there is no crime."

Political opponents have taken issue with some of Stanley's other public comments.

He has labeled most of Congress "traitors" for supporting the Patriot Act after the Sept. 11 attacks. Stanley considers the law, which among other things gave police greater surveillance powers, to be unconstitutional.

As such, he says any member of Congress who backed the measure has committed treason. Stanley said traitors should be hanged.

"I have said Allard is a traitor (for supporting the Patriot Act) and that he should be tried, and if found guilty, he should be hung," Stanley said.

"Allard and many other members of Congress vote for legislation they know is unconstitutional because the government believes it can do what it wants."

Stanley's comments have drawn criticism from Allard and members of the Libertarian Party.

Allard spokesman Dick Wadhams said talk of treason and hanging is irresponsible.

"There is no place in the campaign for that kind of rhetoric," Wadhams said. "The comments speak for themselves and show just how far off the chart he is."

D'Ippolito disputed Stanley's comments."Most Libertarians disagree with what he has said," D'Ippolito said. "I agree that the Patriot Act is unconstitutional, but I do not believe it was treason to support it. A more appropriate punishment would be to not re-elect those who voted for the act."

David Bryant, information director for the 4,800-member Colorado Libertarian Party, said the party has taken no position on Stanley's comments or his upcoming trial.

"I support Rick, but the party is trying to maintain official neutrality," Bryant said. "A lot of party members have expressed dismay at Rick's straightforward approach. Some people think he is brave and have compared him to Rosa Parks. But others have said it will be horrible to read a headline that says: 'Libertarian goes to jail.'"