The fight over guns has reentered the Colorado Legislature, as the new Republican majority in the Colorado Senate begins to revisit party goals in the 2015 session.
The gun argument was revisited immediately, as the Legislature opened for session at the beginning of the year, according to The Colorado Springs Gazette.
The Legislature attempted to overturn several guns laws made in 2013 after the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting in July 2012.
The Aurora shooting occurred months before the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, which sparked a national debate about gun laws in the United States.
Following the shootings, Colorado Legislature moved to create stricter gun laws.
Colorado State Republicans attempted to repeal the laws put into place after these shootings Monday, February 2nd.
Among these efforts was Colorado House Bill 15-1050, which would repeal the law that requires a criminal background check before transferring fire arms between citizens.
According to the bill, the purpose is to repeal “the requirement that before any person who is not a licensed gun dealer transfers possession of a firearm to a transferee, he or she must require that a criminal background check be conducted of the prospective transferee and must obtain approval of the transfer from the Colorado bureau of investigation (CBI).”
Additionally, via the Colorado House Bill 15-1009, Senate Republicans were looking to overturn a law that banned the sale and possession of large magazines and required larger magazines manufactured in Colorado to have identification markings.
Both of these attempts at repeals were struck down 6-5 in the Colorado House. However, the Colorado Senate passed Senate Bill 86, which is the same as HB 15-1050, by a margin of 3-2, according to the Denver Post.
Along with Senate Bill 86, Senate Bill 32 also passed 3-2, which allows a person who legally possesses a handgun to carry it, concealed, in Colorado without a permit, according to the Denver Post.
This effort comes as a result of Republicans taking back control of the Colorado Senate after the 2014 mid-term election.
“What the Republicans are doing is really just symbolic,” Dr. Richard Foster, professor of political science at Fort Lewis College, said. With Republicans now in control of the Senate, they are bringing to light more of the symbolic topics early in the session to show their devotion to the party.
The Republicans goal in revisiting this legislation was to send a message of loyalty to the National Rifle Association, which has consistently supported the party and made campaign contributions, Foster said.
The rekindling of this debate demonstrates how the issue of guns will continue to impact society as opinions and political influence evolve over time.
“Guns are always going to be a part of our culture and society in this country, and how we address that changes over time,” Foster said.