Repeal Of CO Magazine Limitation Law Has Bi-Partisan Support
Repeal Of CO Magazine Limitation Law Has Bi-Partisan Support
Senate Bill 15-175 would repeal the 2013 law that limited the size of ammunition magazines to 15 rounds. The unusual characteristic of this bill is that there are 4 Democrat co-sponsors, 3 in the Senate and 1 in the House. This is an attribute of the Colorado General Assembly that many other states don’t have: We have pro-gun Democrats.
In the Colorado State Senate, Kerry Donovan (D-Vail), Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge), and Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo) all signed on as Senate co-sponsors. In the Colorado State House, Ed Vigil (D-Fort Garland) is the sole Democrat co-sponsor.
None of these are Johnnies-come-lately on this issue. Senators Jahn, and Garcia (when he was in the House) and Representative Vigil all voted against the 2013 ban bill. Senator Donovan, a freshman from Vail, said on her campaign website, “You have my word that I will work to defend your ability to purchase and use guns. The current law passed by Denver limiting high-capacity magazines is unenforceable and I would not have supported it.” It bears repeating that Senator Donovan is from Vail, CO.
Senator Jahn said in 2013 that she voted against the magazine limit, the ban on concealed weapons and the gun liability measures because she believed they cannot be enforced and will not stop gun violence.
The County Sheriffs in 2013 came to the conclusion that the ban on magazines over 15 rounds was unenforceable. Their lawsuit is wending its way through the legal process and is currently in the appeal stage.
During gun control vs. gun rights debates, it is a commonly held belief that Republicans support gun rights, and Democrats support gun control. That is not the case everywhere as more Americans are supporting gun rights over gun control. This shift is beginning to be reflected in an increased number of pro-gun Democrats.
Senate Bill 15-175 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee but not yet scheduled for a hearing. It is sure to pass in the Senate, but in the House, Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst told the New York Times that all of the gun rights bills that pass the Senate will have “absolutely no chance” when they reach the House.
Given the 4 Democrat co-sponsors on the magazine limitation repeal bill, it will be interesting to see if the Speaker will send the bill directly to House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee to die, or if she will allow it to have a full public hearing on the House floor.
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Don’t hold your breath: all four of the House gun rights bills went directly to the kill committee. But we’ll see.
Al, feel free to follow the comments on my FB post with Senator Chris Holbert. He suggests who we need to put pressure on. Call me an optimist!
Democrats are hoping we check out and move on from this arbitrary law.
We need to start recalling Democrats who attempt to kill the bill. I imagine if they see another recall coming they will change their minds. Remember, the only thing a politician cares about is remaining in power.
This obstructive display by progressive Democrats to not even being open to modify HB 13-1224 is how Bennet loses his reelection next year.
I would be moe than satisfied with a 30 round limitation. Democrats try to make this about 100 round beta drums, but I don’t know a gun owner that has a those drums.
The Democrats in Colorado represent Michael Bloomberg and no one else. If Senate Dems want to support a gun law repeal, they can with the knowledge that the bills will be killed in the House. Any House Dem who supports the repeals will get a well financed primary challenger next election, and should a repeal pass the House, the Governor will be reminded that his aspirations to any higher office will float or sink on his veto.
Bloomie owns the Colorado state government and he’s not going to let his investment get away.
I see more recalls coming.
I believe that the House vote is a good winnowing tool to sort out who we will be opposing next election. It might be wise to inform some of the more vulnerable of these of our ongoing scrutiny regarding this matter.