The Democratic-controlled state House of Representatives in Colorado on Monday passed a bill to limit gun magazines to 15 rounds, the Denver Post reported.
On a tight 34-31 vote, House Bill 1224 passed out of the chamber and sent the measure to the Senate, which is also in Democratic hands. HB 1224 was the first of four gun-related bills that will be voted on in the House on Monday. Only three Democrats voted against the bill.
Opponents to the legislation contended that it would drive gun manufacturing jobs out of the state. Others signaled an aversion to all gun bills that were being considered. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) said last week that he supports the 15-round limit on gun magazines.
From the Post:
House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, said it was “absolutely inconsistent” for Democrats to have added an amendment to the bill in an attempt to keep Erie -based gun magazine manufacturer Magpul from leaving the state. The amendment says manufacturers could still make high-capacity magazines for out-of-state sale.
“Apparently, they (high-capacity magazines) are not instruments of destruction when they’re purchased outside the borders of Colorado,” Waller said.
Early in the debate Monday, Rep. Ed Vigil, D-Fort Garland, stood at the well of the House — with the entire GOP caucus standing at the same time — and said he would vote against all four gun bills. Vigil described how his family came to Colorado in the 1850s.
“They carried weapons to settle this land. This is part of our heritage,” he said. “I cannot turn my back on that.”
