Last month, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health emergency. In 2020, gun violence surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for children in the United States.
We need a range of responses to meet this moment, including more funding for firearm violence prevention, safe storage laws, effective background checks, “red flag” laws, and more. In Colorado, we are leading the way on this important work to save lives.
When I ran for Attorney General, I was proud to be endorsed as a Gun Sense Candidate—one that stands firmly for gun safety laws. Today, our department is encouraging safe storage, supporting the use of Colorado’s red flag law, and defending our state gun laws in court.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal law—mirroring a similar one in Colorado—that prevents domestic violence perpetrators from having firearms.
Friend, I’m so glad to see that the Supreme Court made the right decision in this case. But other challenges to gun safety laws will continue, including our minimum age limit to buy firearms and our ban on ghost guns.
While the Supreme Court upheld one gun safety law, they did recently overturn the federal law on bump stocks and rejected our argument on why these are legal and necessary safeguards. After that decision, I called for a Colorado law to ban bump stocks.
I’m proud of Colorado’s leadership on this important issue. As your Attorney General, I’ll continue pushing for common sense gun safety measures, to advance public safety, and save lives.
