Colorado passes legislation on universal background checks for gun purchases

Colorado, home to two of the country’s deadliest mass shootings in history, recently approved universal background checks for gun purchases.

According to Reuters, the legislation passed in the state Senate 19 to 14 and the state house 36 to 27. No Republican members supported it. Two Democrats were against the bill.

According to The Associated Press, the decision was made in the midst of heated debate over gun control laws following the mass shooting in a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school. Now, the legislation must be approved by Democrat Governor John Hickenlooper for the final say. Hickenlooper has publicized his support for universal background checks.

Senator Morgan Carroll told Reuters, “This bill as amended strikes an important balance between ensuring that the bill reduces the number of guns in the hands of criminals while allowing all law-abiding citizens to purchase the guns of their choice.”

Colorado Republicans argue that if a criminal wants a gun, he will manage to get his hands on one in spite of the bill.