DenverDenverVideoDenver News

Joe Biden Calls Colorado Democratic Lawmakers On Gun Bills, Stresses Colorado's Importance

Biden Calls Democratic Lawmakers, Urges Passage Of Gun Bills
By 

Former Denver Associate Editor, HuffPost

|
Open Image Modal
Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., left, Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, D-Texas, right, and others arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2103, for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)

Vice Presiden Joe Biden called four Colorado state Democrats Friday in the midst of a gun debate, stressing Colorado's importance in the national gun debate, according to a report by The Denver Post.

"I was totally surprised. He just said he's watching us and asked if we had a chance to move these bills forward and said what an important signal it would send to the country if we do," Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, said about the call from Biden he received just after 5 p.m.

House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, agreed that he was caught by surprise.

"I was shocked that he called," Ferrandino said. "He said he thought the bills could help them on a national level."

But the call appeared to only incense the state's Republican representatives.

"I'm waiting for my call from Vice President Biden," Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen, said jokingly before the Legislature Friday night while the House deliberated a concealed carry ban on college campuses.

"I know the importance of all of these bills passing in Colorado, and I know the importance of what this means for us as a state and us as a nation. There will be changes," Gerou said, adding that she believed there would be risks from passing the bill.

Biden is reportedly vacationing in Snowmass, Colorado on a ski trip over the President's Day weekend, but made it a point to call Democratic Reps. Mark Ferrandino, Tony Exum, Mike McLachlan of Durango, and Dominick Moreno of Commerce City.

Before You Go

Pivotal Moments In The Federal Gun Control Debate
1981: The Attempted Assassination Of President Ronald Reagan(01 of10)
Open Image Modal
on March 30, 1981, President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Reagan's press secretary, Jim Brady, was shot in the head. (credit:Ron Edmonds, AP)
1993: The Brady Handgun Violence Act (02 of10)
Open Image Modal
The Brady Handgun Violence Act of 1993, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, mandated that federally licensed dealers complete comprehensive background checks on individuals before selling them a gun. The legislation was named for James Brady, who was shot during an attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
1994: The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994, instituted a ban on 19 kinds of assault weapons, including Uzis and AK-47s. The crime bill also banned the possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. (An exemption was made for weapons and magazines manufactured prior to the ban.)
2004: Law Banning Magazines Holding More Than Ten Rounds Of Ammunition Expires(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
In 2004, ten years after it first became law, Congress allowed a provision banning possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition to expire through a sunset provision. Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke told HuffPost that the expiration of this provision meant that Rep. Gabby Giffords's alleged shooter was able to fire off 20-plus shots without reloading (under the former law he would have had only ten).
2007: The U.S. Court of Appeals For The District Of Columbia Rules In Favor Of Dick Heller(05 of10)
Open Image Modal
In 2007 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled to allow Dick Heller, a licensed District police officer, to keep a handgun in his home in Washington, D.C. Following that ruling, the defendants petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
2008: The NICS Improvement Amendments Act(06 of10)
Open Image Modal
Following the deadly shooting at Virginia Tech University, Congress passed legislation to require states provide data on mentally unsound individuals to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, with the aim of halting gun purchases by the mentally ill, and others prohibited from possessing firearms. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush in January of 2008.
2008: Supreme Court Strikes Down D.C. Handgun Ban As Unconstitutional(07 of10)
Open Image Modal
In June of 2008, the United States Supreme Court upheld the verdict of a lower court ruling the D.C. handgun ban unconstitutional in the landmark case District of Columbia v. Heller.
Gabrielle Giffords And Trayvon Martin Shootings(08 of10)
Open Image Modal
Gun control advocates had high hopes that reform efforts would have increased momentum in the wake of two tragic events that rocked the nation.In January of 2011, Jared Loughner opened fire at an event held by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), killing six and injuring 13, including the congresswoman. Resulting attempts to push gun control legislation proved fruitless, with neither proposal even succeeding in gaining a single GOP co-sponsor.More than a year after that shooting, Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was gunned down by George Zimmerman in an event that some believed would bring increased scrutiny on the nation's Stand Your Ground laws. While there has been increasing discussion over the nature of those statutes, lawmakers were quick to concede that they had little faith the event would effectively spur gun control legislation, thanks largely to the National Rifle Association's vast lobbying power.Read more here: (credit:AP)
Colorado Movie Theater Shooting(09 of10)
Open Image Modal
In July of 2012, a heavily armed gunman opened fire on theatergoers attending a midnight premiere of the final film of the latest Batman trilogy, killing 12 and wounding scores more.The suspect, James Eagan Holmes, allegedly carried out the act with a number of handguns, as well as an AR-15 assault rifle with a 100-round drum magazine.Some lawmakers used the incident, which took place in a state with some of the laxest gun control laws, to bring forth legislation designed to place increased regulations on access to such weapons, but many observers, citing previous experience, were hesitant to say that they would be able to overcome the power of the National Rifle Association and Washington gun lobby. (credit:AP)
Sikh Temple Shooting(10 of10)
Open Image Modal
On August 5, 2012, white supremacist Wade Michael Page opened fire on a Sikhs gathered at a temple in Oak Creek, Wis., killing six and wounding four more before turning the gun on himself. (credit:AP)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip