Senator Angela Giron on Gun
Safety Legislation
Colorado Senate
passed five of seven bills aimed at reducing gun violence on Monday.
Senator Angela
Giron, of Pueblo, after weeks of research and discussion with constituents,
voted yes on each of the five bills. Giron notes a great appreciation for
constituents who have helped her to understand responsible gun ownership.
Giron did not, after
careful consideration, support the campus conceal carry ban that was eventually
pulled by bill sponsor, Senator Rollie Heath.
Giron's transparent decision-making
process has left her open to threats and intimidation as she deliberately chose
to make legislative decisions after having all of the information. Opponents
have run television, newspaper, and internet ads urging Giron to vote against
the bills. Her office has received over 12,000 emails and 5,000 phone calls
from around the country, with less than five percent of the messages coming
from Pueblo County.
Giron comments on
her votes today, by stating: "I would not support any legislation that
ignores Colorado's Western heritage or erodes Second Amendment rights. Modest gun laws, like the bills we passed
today, do not violate the Second Amendment."
Giron sees this
legislation as an important step within a comprehensive approach to solving
today's complicated problem of gun violence. She says, "We must also
improve prevention, early intervention, and treatment of mental illness. We
need to address our culture's glorification of violence in movies, television,
music, and video games."
About the legislative
process, Giron says, "I acknowledge that this process has not been easy,
but I am proud of all members of the Colorado Senate for our ability to engage
fully and to facilitate productive civic discourse."
An overview of Senator Giron's votes:
HB-1228
- This legislation eliminates the government subsidy for background checks for
firearm transfer.
Sen.
Giron's vote: Yes
Giron
says, "From 1994-1999, persons in
Colorado buying a gun paid $10 for their background check. The passage of this
legislation returns Colorado to the policy of customers paying for this
service."
HB-1229
– This bill closes the private sales
loophole by requiring background checks for all gun sales. Amendment: Giron introduced an amendment, in committee, that was
passed, which expanded an exception for family members and creates temporary
transfers.
Sen. Giron's vote: Yes
Giron says, "Background checks for
everyone would tighten up our state system to help ensure that those who
shouldn’t have guns can’t buy them."
HB-1224
– This bill would ban the sale of magazines holding more than 15 rounds of
ammunition.
Sen.
Giron's vote: Yes
Giron
says, "High-capacity
ammunition magazines are designed to shoot a lot of people, quickly. There is
no hunting or sporting purpose for these magazines and they are simply too
dangerous for sale to civilians."
SB-195
– This bill would end online training
for concealed carry permit.
Sen.
Giron's vote: Yes
Giron
says, "People wanting to obtain a
concealed carry permit should have training in person."
SB-197
– The legislation prevents convicted domestic violence offenders from
possessing firearms.
Sen.
Giron's vote: Yes
Giron
says, "This is common sense legislation
which will protect victims of domestic violence."
HB-1226
– This bill adds areas where a concealed carry permit holder is not authorized
to possess a concealed handgun to include: buildings used by
college/university, stadiums/arenas at colleges/universities, outdoor events
sponsored by college/university.
No vote was taken on
this legislation. It was removed from consideration by the bill's sponsor on
Friday, March 8.
Giron
says, "After much deliberation, I had
concerns about this legislation because college campus safety is more
complicated than this particular legislation addressed."
SB-196
– This bill would hold manufacturers and sellers of assault-style weapons
liable for crimes committed with said weapons.
This legislation was removed from
consideration by the bill sponsor on Friday, March 8.
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