The battle over gun control in Colorado may be headed directly to voters this year after activists on both sides of the fight filed proposals for new ballot measures. Two of the proposals would effectively overturn all of the gun legislation signed into state law last year.
While one measure would seek to limit concealed weapons on public colleges and universities in the state, another initiative would overturn the ban on ammunition magazines holding over 15 rounds.
Republican activists Tom Lucero and Patrick Davis, of Larimer County and Colorado Springs, respectively, filed a proposal to "prohibit any restriction on the purchase or possession of ammunition storage and feeding devices other than a restriction enacted by a voter-approved law."
Another initiative would rescind all the gun legislation passed in 2013 and mandate that any future bills limiting gun rights be decided by voters. It was proposed by Tea Party activist Mike Holler and local attorney Anne Gill, who was previously involved in 2006 litigation over Denver's local firearms ordinances.
Last week, Republican House Leader Rep. Brian DelGrosso announced that his party would also introduce a bill in the Legislature to repeal the 15-round magazine limit, but Democrats hold a wide majority in the House and a slim majority in the Senate and will make it difficult for the measure to pass.
The proposals come after a contentious year in the state's legislature, during which two Colorado legislators were recalled for their their part in passing the new gun control laws. On Thursday, Magpul Industries Corp., one of the country's largest producers of gun ammunition magazines, announced that it would leave Colorado for Wyoming and Texas as promised in protest of stricter gun laws.
Each of the proposals is still in the title hearing phase and will have to gather over 86,000 signatures to make the ballot.
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