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| Gun lobby campaign ousts Democrats in Colorado | Gun lobby campaign ousts Democrats in Colorado |
| (7 days later) | |
| Two Democratic state lawmakers who backed tighter gun laws in the aftermath of mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut have been voted out of office in a recall election promoted by both grassroots activists and an influential gun-rights lobbying group. | Two Democratic state lawmakers who backed tighter gun laws in the aftermath of mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut have been voted out of office in a recall election promoted by both grassroots activists and an influential gun-rights lobbying group. |
| Colorado Senate president John Morse lost by just 343 votes on Tuesday in a swing district in the Republican stronghold of Colorado Springs while fellow state senator Angela Giron lost by a bigger margin in a largely blue-collar district that usually favours Democrats. | Colorado Senate president John Morse lost by just 343 votes on Tuesday in a swing district in the Republican stronghold of Colorado Springs while fellow state senator Angela Giron lost by a bigger margin in a largely blue-collar district that usually favours Democrats. |
| The National Rifle Association said the election sent a clear message to lawmakers that they should protect gun rights and be accountable to their constituents, not to "anti-gun billionaires" – a swipe at the New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, who supported Giron and Morse. | The National Rifle Association said the election sent a clear message to lawmakers that they should protect gun rights and be accountable to their constituents, not to "anti-gun billionaires" – a swipe at the New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, who supported Giron and Morse. |
| Democrats will still maintain control of the state legislature and the laws are expected to remain in place. "The loss of this senate seat is purely symbolic," Morse said. | Democrats will still maintain control of the state legislature and the laws are expected to remain in place. "The loss of this senate seat is purely symbolic," Morse said. |
| Angered by new limits of 15 rounds for ammunition magazines and expanded background checks on private gun sales, gun-rights activists tried to recall a total of four lawmakers but only succeeded in launching efforts against two. It was the first for state legislators since Colorado adopted the procedure in 1912. | Angered by new limits of 15 rounds for ammunition magazines and expanded background checks on private gun sales, gun-rights activists tried to recall a total of four lawmakers but only succeeded in launching efforts against two. It was the first for state legislators since Colorado adopted the procedure in 1912. |
| The recalls were seen as the latest chapter in the national debate over gun rights – and, for some, a warning to lawmakers in swing states who might contemplate gun restrictions in the future. | The recalls were seen as the latest chapter in the national debate over gun rights – and, for some, a warning to lawmakers in swing states who might contemplate gun restrictions in the future. |
| But the vote also exposed divisions between urban and suburban areas and more rural areas in a state where support for guns has not been a partisan issue. Dozens of elected county sheriffs have sued to block the gun laws and some activists are promoting a largely symbolic measure by some rural counties to secede from the state. | But the vote also exposed divisions between urban and suburban areas and more rural areas in a state where support for guns has not been a partisan issue. Dozens of elected county sheriffs have sued to block the gun laws and some activists are promoting a largely symbolic measure by some rural counties to secede from the state. |
| The gun control debate was one of the most emotionally charged of Colorado's legislative session this year. Barack Obama added to the attention on the Colorado statehouse as his administration unsuccessfully pushed the US Congress to enact similar gun controls. | The gun control debate was one of the most emotionally charged of Colorado's legislative session this year. Barack Obama added to the attention on the Colorado statehouse as his administration unsuccessfully pushed the US Congress to enact similar gun controls. |
| The debate was rekindle by the mass shootings at an Aurora, Colorado, cinema in July 2012 and at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in December. The new gun laws were major victories for Colorado Democrats, who rallied majorities in the both chambers of the state legislature this spring to pass them without Republican support. The legislation was signed into law by Democratic governor John Hickenlooper. | The debate was rekindle by the mass shootings at an Aurora, Colorado, cinema in July 2012 and at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in December. The new gun laws were major victories for Colorado Democrats, who rallied majorities in the both chambers of the state legislature this spring to pass them without Republican support. The legislation was signed into law by Democratic governor John Hickenlooper. |
| Reported contributions to Morse and Giron totaled about $3m (£1.9m), dwarfing the amount raised by gun activists who petitioned for the recall, though some independent groups did not have to report spending. Both the NRA and Bloomberg contributed more than $300,000 to the pro- and anti-recall campaigns respectively. | Reported contributions to Morse and Giron totaled about $3m (£1.9m), dwarfing the amount raised by gun activists who petitioned for the recall, though some independent groups did not have to report spending. Both the NRA and Bloomberg contributed more than $300,000 to the pro- and anti-recall campaigns respectively. |
| Hickenlooper initially rejected calls for stronger gun control laws after 12 people were killed and a further 70 injured in Aurora in July 2012. He changed his mind before Newtown shooting, in which a gunman killed 20 children and six adults. | Hickenlooper initially rejected calls for stronger gun control laws after 12 people were killed and a further 70 injured in Aurora in July 2012. He changed his mind before Newtown shooting, in which a gunman killed 20 children and six adults. |
| Colorado's governor, who is up for re-election in 2014, kept a low profile during the recalls. A recent statewide poll by Quinnipiac University suggested that 52% of voters disapproved of his gun policy while only 35% approved. | Colorado's governor, who is up for re-election in 2014, kept a low profile during the recalls. A recent statewide poll by Quinnipiac University suggested that 52% of voters disapproved of his gun policy while only 35% approved. |
| Morse, a former police chief in a Colorado Springs suburb, was first elected to the state senate in 2006. He will be replaced by Republican Bernie Herpin. Giron will be replaced by former Pueblo police officer George Rivera. | Morse, a former police chief in a Colorado Springs suburb, was first elected to the state senate in 2006. He will be replaced by Republican Bernie Herpin. Giron will be replaced by former Pueblo police officer George Rivera. |
| • The original headline – 'Gun lobby campaign ousts Democrats in Colorado and Connecticut' – was amended on Wednesday September 11 2013. There was no recall election in Connecticut. This has now been changed. | • The original headline – 'Gun lobby campaign ousts Democrats in Colorado and Connecticut' – was amended on Wednesday September 11 2013. There was no recall election in Connecticut. This has now been changed. |
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