One day after the head of Colorado's Department of Corrections was shot and killed in his home, Governor John Hickenlooper signed landmark new gun laws on Wednesday, expanding background checks on gun purchases and limiting the size of ammunition magazines, NBC News reported.
The Democratic governor, in the traditionally fire-arm-friendly state of Colorado, said he found widespread support among state residents for broadening background checks, and dismissed any idea that politicians were pressured to act. Colorado experienced highly publicized mass shootings in the past years, notably the Columbine shootings in 1999 and at the Aurora cinema shooting last July.
Hickenlooper's signing of the new laws was not met with across-the-board excitement.
"We're all in shock here," state Senator Greg Brophy said. "It turns out this guy who everybody thought was a moderate Democrat is actually a gun-control governor. I think the governor will be replaced by someone who has Colorado values instead of New York City values. If Republicans are returned to control we will repeal these bills immediately."
Vice President Joe Biden personally lobbied lawmakers to get enough votes to get the bills through the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives in February. The measures backed by state Democrats cleared the state Senate on March 12.
Majority Leader Harry Reid effectively dumped the assault weapons ban within the gun law that will go to the floor. Reid turned down her attempts to bring her ban on 157 different weapons and ammunition clips aboard the Democratic Party's comprehensive gun bill, Politico reported.
"My understanding is it will not be [part of the base bill]," said Senator Diane Feinstein, who proposed the ban. "I would like to [see it moved], but the leader has decided not to do it. ... You will have to ask him why."
Her bill instead will have to go forth separately or as an amendment.
The Democratic majority-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee approved an assault weapons ban in a party-line vote last week,
