“Earlier this year, 19 Colorado senators voted to pass sensible legislation to protect communities by establishing background checks on all gun sales. The Washington gun lobby cherry-picked only four vulnerable senators – and after failing to gain public support in their bid to oust two of them, they funded a major campaign in a low-turnout, off-year election to defeat the other two. This election does not reflect the will of Coloradans, a majority of whom strongly support background checks and opposed these recalls. It was a reflection of a very small, carefully selected population of voters’ views on the legislature’s overall agenda this session. For the last 20 years, the NRA has had the field to themselves in contests like these, but no more. We’re committed to backing elected officials across the country who are willing to face these attacks because they agree with Americans about the need for better background checks.
“Tonight’s results do not change the fact that Coloradans are safer today because of the leadership demonstrated by Senators Morse, Giron and the rest of the Colorado lawmakers who voted for the bills. The new laws they championed remain in place, despite the gun lobby’s best efforts to stop them from passing. This legislation has already helped block more than two dozen gun sales to prohibited purchasers since its inception – and undoubtedly has saved lives in the process. We will continue to fight for sensible measures that reduce the scourge of gun violence and stand firmly behind elected officials who are devoted to saving the lives of innocent Americans.”
