Sen. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo, giving her concession speech Tuesday. (Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)
WASHINGTON — The latest push by President Barack Obama to change U.S. gun policy includes two Colorado politicians who know firsthand the political risks of a gun control platform: former state Sens. Angela Giron and John Morse.
The two Coloradans joined Obama at the White House on Tuesday when the president unveiled a on firearms that would require more gun dealers to get a license and shore up the process in which federal officials conduct background checks.
Their presence is notable — and may serve as a warning sign for Obama’s party — as Giron and Morse, both Democrats, following their support of gun control measures in the legislature.
That 2013 election made history; before Giron and Morse were ousted, no other state lawmaker in Colorado had been recalled.
Reached after the White House rollout, Giron applauded what she called a “simple and reasonable” approach to gun safety. She described as “incredible” the experience of hearing an argue for his new executive actions.
“My hope is that now people are going to get motivated,” Giron said.
Asked about the political risks in pursuing this approach — and what her own electoral history says about that — she said simply: “Your job is to do whatever you can while you can.”
Giron and Morse were part of a 2013 statehouse session that saw legislators put into law , including expanded background checks and a limit on the size of ammunition magazines.
The effort drew praise from gun-control groups and Coloradans who wanted to see a change following the , but it also ignited opposition from 2nd Amendment advocates.
One of those was Victor Head, a Republican and head of Pueblo Freedom and Rights, which was to recall Giron.
He argued that Obama’s new initiative was a bureaucratic move that would do little to stop violent criminals.
“It’s really red tape and paperwork for guys like me in the gun world and the gun industry,” Head said.
And he warned that politicians who support Obama’s efforts could face a fate similar to Giron and Morse.
“They were literally booted out of office for doing exactly what (Obama) is doing,” he said.
