Colorado Remains Ground Zero

As the lawsuit battling the new restrictive gun laws passed in Colorado continues, gun rights advocates are also pushing a number of proposed ballot measures to try to right the wrongs from last year’s legislative session.

One proposal, filed by two gun rights activists—Tom Lucero of Larimer County and Patrick Davis of Colorado Springs—would overturn the Democrat-imposed ban on ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. That law recently prompted industry-giant Magpul to announce it is moving its manufacturing facility out of Colorado and into more gun-friendly Texas and Wyoming.

A second proposed ballot measure would repeal all gun legislation passed in 2013 that would “restrict or limit” the right to bear arms, including the magazine ban. Proposed by Mike Holler and Anne Gill, this measure would also stipulate that future laws limiting the rights of lawful gun owners could only be enacted by state voters, not the legislature.

Opponents of the right of licensed individuals to carry concealed firearms on Colorado college campuses have entered the debate with a proposed ballot measure of their own. That measure—filed by Heather Coogan, former Littleton police chief, and Ken Toltz, parent of college students and former adjunct professor at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business—would restrict carry of concealed handguns on college campuses.

Proposed ballot measures face a lengthy process to be placed on the statewide ballot this November. After the proposal is filed with the secretary of state, supporters must submit a petition form containing 86,105 valid signatures, which must then be verified by the secretary of state.  

The ballot proposals come on the heels of a grassroots citizen recall of two state senators who were instrumental in the passage of the restrictive legislation. State Sen. President John Morse and Sen. Angela Giron were recalled by voters by a large margin. And state Sen. Evie Hudak, who spoke out strongly in favor of restricting campus carry during last year’s session, recently resigned her seat in order to avoid recall.