CO: Hickenlooper signs unconstitutional victim disarmament bills
Source: ABC News
"Colorado's governor signed bills Wednesday that place new
restrictions on firearms, signaling a change for Democrats who have
traditionally shied away from [victim disarmament] 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 [victim disarmament schemes gravy-training on] the horror of
mass killings at an Aurora movie theater and a Connecticut
elementary school.
Colorado Governor Signs
Landmark Gun Bills
By IVAN MORENO Associated Press
DENVER March 20, 2013 (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.
AP
FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2012 file photo
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.
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