Democratic state lawmakers say a new law requiring universal background checks for gun purchases is working well. Data from the Department of Public Safety shows 2% of private gun sales were blocked because of the law.
Seventy-two sales were stopped because the would-be buyer was convicted or charged with a serious crime; such as murder, sexual assault, possession of dangerous drugs and theft.
“You may think someone doesn’t have a record that you’re going to sell a gun to, you think I’ve known this person, but the fact we now have an independent agency doing the background check is really important,” said Representative Beth McCann (D-Denver), one of the main sponsors of the legislation.
A recent poll from Quinnipiac University shows that most Coloradans support universal background checks for gun purchases. The poll also shows Coloradans oppose a new law that limits high capacity magazines to 15 rounds. Both the background check and magazine limits were passed during the 2013 legislative session and were divisive, leading to historic recalls of state Senate President John Morse and Senator Angela Giron.
Colorado's Democrats still maintain the majority at the legislature. Republicans who hold a minority in both chambers say they plan to try to repeal the gun control laws next session. They argue the background check measure puts an undue burden on law-abiding citizens.
