by Robert Davis, The Center Square contributor | April 30, 2021 03:00 PM Print this article Colorado Democrats unveiled a legislative package on Thursday in response to the mass shooting at a King Soopers in Boulder last month that left 10 people dead.
During a press conference Thursday, House Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, credited the work of gun control organizations like Moms Demand Action and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence for “pushing” Colorado lawmakers to draft and introduce the bills.
“These bills will continue Colorado’s march forward for creating a safer environment,” Garnett said.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, who represents the district where the shooting occurred, will sponsor a bill to give local jurisdictions more autonomy to pass gun control measures.
Colorado’s 2003 “preemption” law prevents cities and counties from passing gun regulations that are stricter than the state’s. In March days before someone opened fire inside a Boulder King Soopers, killing 10 a judge found that Boulder’s local ordinance banning assault weapons violated state law. Getting rid of preemption would allow future bans like that one to remain in place.
The Boulder shooting added urgency to those plans with many constituents demanding action from their elected representatives, including Fenberg, whose Senate district includes the grocery store. He will be sponsoring the preemption bill along with Representative Edie Hooton, another Boulder Democrat.
A bill recently introduced in the Colorado legislature seeks to cut the cost of an annual state park pass by 50-75% by offering discounted passes to motorists obtaining or renewing their vehicle registration.
The Keep Colorado Wild Pass â which is supported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, its commission, and the state Department of Natural Resources â would require that the discounted pass be sold for no more than half of the cost of an annual vehicle pass (currently $80) for access to CPWâs 42 state parks. However, officials hope that by giving all residents an easy way to support the agency, the plan would result in enough pass sales and revenue that CPW could sell them for $20 while still helping the agency better achieve and maintain financial stability.
Colorado Democrats unveil 3 more gun violence prevention proposals in wake of Boulder shooting
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Tributes cover the temporary fence around the King Soopers grocery store in which 10 people died in a mass shooting in late March on Friday, April 23, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Posted at 2:39 PM, Apr 29, 2021
and last updated 2021-04-30 08:32:50-04
DENVER â Colorado Democrats on Thursday unveiled three more bills aimed at preventing gun violence â something they have pledged to do in the wake of the Boulder King Soopers shooting and with two other gun violence prevention bills already signed by the governor.