Colorado Strikes Back

In case you missed it yesterday, some pretty significant news came out of Colorado with the successful recall of two state senators, Angela Giron of Pueblo and John Morse of Colorado Springs. Here’s a summary of what happened, how we got here, and why I think it was a considerable win for liberty.

March 2013

Against the will of the people, Governor Hickenlooper signed HB 1224, which limits ammunition magazines to 15 rounds, HB 1229, which requires universal background checks for gun sales or transfers; and HB 1228 which requires gun customers to pay for the costs of the background checks.

June 2013

Residents of Colorado file petitions with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office to recall Angela Giron and John Morse.

September 2013

Special elections held for the recall of Giron and Morse, both of which were successfully removed from office.

Why this matters

While these recalls do not change the gun control laws passed earlier in the year, the implications are important and reach well beyond Colorado’s borders. First of all, our favorite mayor Michael Bloomberg, and more importantly his fortune, were heavily involved in the recalls. The fact that they were still successful despite Bloomberg’s spending is significant (no doubt due in part to the NRA’s financial help).

Second, these recall elections will carry over into the 2014 elections. At the state level, Governor Hickenlooper no longer looks unbeatable, as the Denver Post points out.

Gov. John Hickenlooper — once deemed so unbeatable that the GOP couldn’t even find a candidate to run against him in 2014 — now faces falling approval ratings and a crowded field of Republican contenders, in part for backing stricter gun measures.

Beyond Colorado, this is a clear message to lawmakers everywhere. Pass gun control legislation against the will of the people, and you’ll lose your job. Sean Sullivan on the Washington Post said it this way.

It’s not every day that you see an incumbent recalled from office, let alone someone as high-profile as a state Senate president. The message the defeat of Morse and Giron sends to legislators all across the country is unmistakable: If you are thinking about pushing for new gun-control laws, you could face swift consequences.

Lastly, a good measure of how big of a deal this was is to look at the reaction of gun control groups like Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns, who of course downplayed the victory. One of the most telling though is Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America’s response (side note: what genius came up with that arduous name?):

From the outset, this recall was designed as a tool of intimidation funded by the gun lobby. What a ridiculous temper tantrum by a bunch of bullies – moms know them when we see them.
…
As moms, we are sad, angry, and more determined than ever to stand with those who stand for gun sense. There will be dozens, maybe even hundreds of elections next year, and we will organize and vote for lawmakers who support common-sense gun laws like background checks.

I’m not going to link the quote above, you’ll have to Google it with Bing Duck Duck Go yourself if you want to read the whole thing. The bottom line is that if cooks like Moms Demand blah blah blah are upset, it’s a good thing for liberty.