Colorado Legislators Ousted in Recall Over RKBA Issues

[appal_jack]

An epic national debate over gun rights in Colorado on Tuesday saw two Democratic state senators ousted for their support for stricter laws, a "ready, aim, fired" message intended to stop other politicians for pushing for firearms restrictions. Senate President John Morse and Sen. Angela Giron will be replaced in office with Republican candidates who petitioned onto the recall ballot.

(snip)

"Coloradans ... sent a clear message that politicians who blatantly ignore their constituents will be held accountable," said Dustin Zvonek, state director of Americans for Prosperity. "Perhaps this will serve as a lesson that one-party rule in Denver doesn't give the majority license to take things to extremes or run roughshod over the values and rights of Coloradans who just happen, for the moment, to be in the minority."

(snip)

The National Rifle Association, which donated about $360,000 to support the recalls, hailed Morse's loss, telling The Denver Post it "is proud to have stood with the men and women in Colorado who sent a clear message that their Second Amendment rights are not for sale."

But it wasn't just the NRA that warned Democrats about messing with gun rights.

Sen. Lois Tochtrop, an Adams County Democrat and longtime Second Amendment activist, opposed five of the seven gun bills initially introduced in the session, including a lightning-rod proposal by Morse.

That proposal would have assigned liability for assault-style weapon damages to manufacturers and sellers, but Morse killed it at the 11th-hour because he didn't have the votes to pass it through the Democratic-controlled Senate.

"I feel like all these gun bills have done — to quote the last words in the movie 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' — is to awaken a sleeping giant," Tochtrop said during the debate.

Awaken they did.

Upset by the bills themselves and the Senate Democrats' decision to hold seven hearings in one day — resulting in hundreds of witnesses being unable to testify — voters in Morse's and Giron's districts successfully forced the first-ever recall elections of state lawmakers in Colorado history.

Much more at link:

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24066168/colorado-senate-president-john-morse-recalled-angela-giron


I hate to see Democrats get ousted by Republicans, but maybe these recall votes will finally drive home the lesson that gun control is not the solution to problems of violence, mental health, poverty, or related issues. Politicians piss on the Second Amendment at their own peril.

I look forward to voting for more pro-All-the-Bill-of-Rights Democrats. Are any candidates listening?

Also, I read elsewhere (no link at present) that the pro-recall campaign was outspent by the anti's/gun-grabbers by a ration of around 6:1 (the last numbers I saw were ~$540k : ~$3 million). Looks like idiot authoritarian Bloomberg pissed away a little more of his fortune.

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[ileus]

1. Lesson don't ignore the will of the people to vote pet agendas.

especially when the agenda isn't progressive...

This won't be a win until the bills are removed from the books.

[krispos42]

2. I hope that when the unions are destroyed...

...and there's only one Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado, that the Democrats say "that magazine limit was worth it".



People that don't own gun magazines are not going to rush to the polls to reward politicians for limiting them.

People that do own gun magazines are going to rush to the polls to punish politicians for limiting them.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Can you explain why people were saying that even successful recalls were going to be a win?

There was this article: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/09/colorado-recall-election-guns.php

But as it turns out Morgan Carroll isn't as likely to replace Morse as is Republican Bernie Herpin.

So where is this a "win", or is it just smoke and bullshit?



To me the people spoke and said "No" to petty moves that don't really get to the heart of the problem of violence.

Smart people, those Coloradans.

[DonP]

3. I wonder if California is watching this?

After the Gray Davis fiasco and now this, anything seems possible ... if you piss off enough of the wrong people.

I think Colorado may have had as much to do with Morse big mouth making pubic statements to the media about how he told all his legislators to ignore calls from constituents and just stay focused on their legislation, than it did with magazine capacity.

Publicly telling them to ignore the voters is pretty much going to piss everybody off.

[petronius]

7. I'm pretty strongly opposed to recalls in general, and our experience in CA has

a lot to do with that position. I'd prefer to see recalls limited to instances of gross misconduct (and whether or not I agree with it, voting for gun control doesn't qualify). But recall is a tool that voters should have access to, I just wish they/we would use it a bit more judiciously...

[DonP]

8. With a bunch of new gun laws on Jerry Brown's desk, this has to be something they look at askance.

I think among other bills there's a complete lead ammo ban, a 10 round magazine limit with no grandfathering, and reclassifying any centerfire rifle with a separate magazine as an "Assault Weapon".

Or, OTOH, Brown just may feel that he has a much better lock on his job than Davis had and sign away.

I agree with you on recalls should be for major malfeasance only. But it will only take a few successful ones before other legislators start thinking twice about listening to Nanny Bloomberg's advice, no matter how big the checks.

[rl6214]

4. Not only bloombergs money but Gabby Giffords PAC dumped lots of money

I was getting emails weekly from them to donate for this recall. I would love to support her but not in her efforts towards gun control.

She and Bloomberg need to stay out of other states affairs.

[gejohnston]

5. Bloomberg wrote a $350K personal check

LA billionare Eli Broad wrote a $250K personal check. NPR reported that team Bloomberg outspent the recall proponates 7-1.

[rl6214]

6. I got weekly emails from the Giffords PAC to donate to help defeat the recalls.

I don't know how much money yh eu spent but I'm sure it was substantial. Anything other than gun control and I am sure I would have gladly donated, even with my limited income.

[virginia mountainman]

10. Sad thing is..

This outcome was predictable.. Seems like the backlash this time may be stronger than in 1994. People are really pissed off, and pissed off people will walk barefoot on broken, flaming glass to vote.

Gun Control advocates have such short memories, they forget that Gun Control caused Al Gore to lose to Bush-Co..... And how much different would the world be today if he had won. In all honesty, if they are that stupid to go against the will of the people, than they have no business being in power.

I bet John Morse, wishes now he had listened to his "constituent's emails", ...lets see if he can ignore them now...

(This is from the Rachel Maddow Show, the only place I could find it.)

[HolyMoley]

11. Another failure and loss for the gun control movement

Can't say that it comes as no surprise.

Cuing up the background music for their next bold and brilliant game plan