Colorado governor signs landmark gun bills

March 20, 2013 @ 7:23 pm


Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, right, is hugged by Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, after he signed gun control bills into law at the Capitol in Denver on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. Fields was a co-sponsor of bills on background checks and the size of ammunition magazines. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, Pool) | Zoom

DENVER (AP) - Colorado's governor signed bills Wednesday that place new restrictions on firearms, signaling a change for Democrats who have traditionally shied away from gun control in a state with a pioneer tradition of gun ownership and self-reliance.

The legislation thrust Colorado into the national spotlight as a potential test of how far the country might be willing to go with new gun restrictions after the horror of mass killings at an Aurora movie theater and a Connecticut elementary school.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper signed bills that require background checks for private and online gun sales and ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.

The debate in the Democratic-controlled Legislature was intense, and Republicans warned that voters would make Democrats pay. The bills failed to garner a single Republican vote.

The bills' approval came exactly eight months after dozens of people were shot in Aurora, and a day after the executive director of the state Corrections Department, Tom Clements, was shot and killed at his home. Hickenlooper signed the legislation right after speaking with reporters about Clements' slaying.

Hickenlooper said large-capacity magazines "have the potential to turn killers into killing machines." He also said he realized some gun owners may be inconvenienced but that "the potential for damage seems to outweigh, significantly, the inconvenience that people would have," he said.

The bills signal a historic change for Democrats in a state where owning a gun is as common as owning a car in some rural areas.

"He just slapped rural Colorado right in the face," said Republican Sen. Brophy, who represents an eastern plains district. "They are overwhelmingly upset about this."

Both bills take effect July 1. People who currently own larger-capacity magazines will be able to keep them.

At the signing ceremony, Hickenlooper was surrounded by lawmakers who sponsored the bills, and relatives of mass shootings. Hickenlooper also signed requiring buyers to pay fees for background checks.

Each time he signed a bill, applause erupted from lawmakers and their guests, who included Jane Dougherty, whose sister was killed in the attack at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.; Sandy Phillips, whose daughter was killed in Aurora; and Tom Mauser, whose son was killed in the 1999 Columbine shooting in Colorado.

Phillips, who lost daughter Jessica Ghawi, reminded Hickenlooper that it was the eight-month anniversary of the theater rampage.

"You've given us a real gift today," she told the governor.

Later, Phillips added: "Thank you so much. You're leading the entire country."

Dougherty thanked Hickenlooper with tears in her eyes. Mauser also expressed gratitude.

"I knew it would be a long haul," he said. "But I had faith in the people of Colorado."

Democratic Rep. Rhonda Fields, who represents the district that includes the Aurora theater, said the governor had signed "common-sense legislation."

"Gun violence is a problem nationwide, and sadly in the state of Colorado, we are all too familiar with some of these tragedies," Fields.

Lawmakers debated firearms proposals after the Columbine High School shooting, and began requiring background checks for buyers at gun shows. But nothing they did then was as sweeping as the proposals they took up this year.

This year, Colorado lawmakers succeeded while members of their party stumbled in other states.

Washington state's Democrat-controlled House failed this month to pass a universal background check bill. A bill requiring background checks at gun shows in New Mexico also stalled in that Democrat-led Legislature.

Republicans have warned that voters will punish Hickenlooper and other Democrats who voted in favor of the measures.

"The real solution here is at the ballot box in 2014," Brophy said.

Republicans have said limiting magazine sizes will drive jobs from the state, and ultimately won't prevent criminals from getting larger magazines in other states.

One Colorado-based manufacturer of ammunition magazines disclosed plans to relocate because of the new restrictions.

Police chiefs in urban areas supported the bills, but some rural county sheriffs opposed the new background checks, arguing the move is unenforceable and endangers Second Amendment rights.

Hickenlooper said law enforcement should try to find common ground.

"This shouldn't be rural versus urban. We are one state," he said.

___

Associated Press writer Kristen Wyatt contributed to this report.

___

Find Ivan Moreno on Twitter: http://twitter.com/IvanJourno


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (4)


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  • Chrisfrommv wrote...
    I am glad
    March 4, 2013 6:50 pm
    the author mention Columbine since many who seem to think magazine caps and gun bans will help solve terrible school shootings. Columbine happened during the Clinton Era Ban on exactly the same weapons. The texas shooter (i refuse to say his name ref. 1966) used a Remington 700 bolt action rifle. The Justice department even declared that there was no evidence the ban had any effect. Look at chicago, DC L.A., New york these places all very strict gun bans, all have some of the highest crime rate in the U.S -- "Kelly compared the different background check requirements for private and retail sales to having two different lines at the airport, one with security and one without." Outdated stats and misinformation has really blown the private sale out of proportion. Private sale without a background check more commonly occures with people who know each other and trust their intentions. Internet sales require the gun to be shipped to an FFL in most cases which WILL preform a bockground check. "Universal" background checks will not work without a gun registry. Registries have been only been effective for one agenda! To clarify my point, Canada repealed their registry as the government realized that it was a an ineffective waste of tax payers money. It was paramount to solving not one crime per it's own ministry.-- As to the attitude of the protestors I can understand their outrage when their legislators do not listen to the people. On the otherside I can recall many stories and even a personal experience or two when it was the democrats being disruptive because they weren't getting their way!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    someone got balls?
    March 20, 2013 4:28 am
    Republicans have bashed Democrats, saying their proposal to limit magazine sizes will drive 'jobs' from the state? Dead kids ok?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    dead kids don't stop Republicans from fearmongering
    March 20, 2013 7:50 am
    and profiting greatly by the dolts who eat it up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    No assault rifles
    March 20, 2013 7:23 pm
    No freedom. Never know when the zombie apocalypse will happen, right?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }