Colorado could see pro-gun bills repealing background checks and magazine restrictions

The Colorado 70th General Assembly convenes Wednesday with  Republicans controlling the Senate, Democrats the House and with a Democratic governor holding veto power, several recently passed gun control laws could be safe from repeal, the Denver Post reported.

But that doesn’t mean Republican’s won’t try — again.   

“We expect some repeal bills regarding the 2014 session bills that passed, but I am not aware of any at this time,” Democratic Sen. Lucia Guzman, president pro tempore for the ending session, told Guns.com.

Guzman — who has consistently voted in favor of gun control, including for the recently passed gun laws — wouldn’t comment on whether any of those repeal bills could include the gun control laws in place.   

Two 2013 initiatives that never made it to the 2014 statewide ballot sought to repeal all restrictive gun laws, which prohibited high capacity magazines, tacked a fee onto background checks, mandated universal background checks on gun sales, required mental health reporting and others.

Several bills seen as pro-gun were also introduced — one sought to eliminate the governor’s authority to restrict the distribution of firearms during state of disaster emergency, but was postponed indefinitely. Another looking to eliminate background checks for step-family members — part of an extensive list of relatives needing background checks upon transfer of a firearm — was also killed.

Bills seeking to repeal universal background checks and fees; repeal the ban on high capacity magazines; pass permitless concealed carry; implement a “stand your ground” statute; arm teachers and restore firearms rights to some felons were also halted in the assembly.

Likely initiatives in front of voters this time around will be a measure asking the state to ignore federal law and allow lawful marijuana users to be issued concealed carry permits.    

The 2013 gun laws — passed by a balanced assembly, with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats the Senate — were reportedly spurred by the mass shootings at a movie theater in Aurora in July 2012 and an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, just a few months later.

Of the three gun-related bills signed into law by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, HB 1228, which sought to recoup the cost of performing background checks, passed the legislature by the slimmest margin, just four votes — 33-32 in the House and 19-16 in the Senate.

HB 1224, which prohibits high capacity magazines, passed by a slim margin (18-17) in the Senate. The House passed the bill 36-29.

In a move to expand background checks and mental health screening, the legislature passed HB 1229 in the House 36-29 and Senate 19-16.

Guns.com reached out to several Republicans and Democrats in the Colorado legislature, but most could not be reached by story publication.

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