There couldn’t be a hotter political talking point in Colorado than the gun regulation debate that has been occurring in the state’s legislature this year. Just in September of 2013, two of Colorado’s Democratic senators John Morse, who was also the president of the Colorado Senate, and Angela Giron, of the Democratic-leaning city of Pueblo were recalled from office in a special election, based on the strict regulations of guns in the state that was passed.
This heavy gun control bill limits gun magazines to 15 rounds, and in addition in order to purchase guns, there is a requirement of a universal background check, which is to be paid for by the gun purchaser. The bill was able to pass without a single Republican vote for it, and will be expected to take effect July 1, 2014.
This recall election was the first in 100 years since it was adopted by Colorado in their constitution. The final count showed that David Morse was voted out in a tight election by 50.9-49 percent, while Giron was voted out by a 56 percent to 44 percent.
Colorado’s new gun regulations come in the face of a slew of mass shootings that have occurred around the country in the past two years. This includes the shooting that resulted in 28 (including the shooter) killed at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14, 2013, and the mass shooting at the Century movie theatre in Aurora Colorado on July 20, 2012, which killed 12 people and injured 70.
According to USA today, there have been more than 200 mass killings in the U.S.[5] A mass shooting is characterized as an “act of murdering a large number of people, typically at the same time or over a relatively short period of time.” Despite this staggering number, there have been absolutely no amendments to federal regulations of guns.
The closest the United States has gotten in the past 10 years to some sort of change in federal policy towards guns was a Democratic campaign to beef up regulations which included universal, national background checks before purchasing a gun. Even with the backing of Vice President Joe Biden the bill regulation was not able to get through Congress.
Colorado is in fact one a few states in over a decade to pass a comprehensive gun control act, and could in fact set a precedent for state gun regulation bills around the nation. However what can be asked is that although state legislatures may be progressive to pass such bills, are the people of these states and ultimately the American people ready for stricter gun laws?