Colorado Lawmakers Ousted in Recall Vote Over Gun Law

[lovedforaday]

COLORADO SPRINGS - Two Colorado Democrats who provided crucial support for a package of state gun laws were voted out of office on Tuesday in special elections seen as a test of whether swing-state voters would accept gun restrictions after mass shootings at a Colorado movie theater and a Connecticut elementary school.

The vote, which came five

Comments

[effervescent]

I guess even mass shootings aren't going to make people change their minds.

[hinoema]

It's not really a decision of the people when you have these wealthy private interests- be they the NRA, Citizens' United or whoever- throwing millions into the mix. That's what needs to stop.

[pimmie]

I'm not originally from CO, nor am I able to vote here, but this makes me so sick to my stomach. I live in CO Springs, so it's been everywhere. It's not so much a gun issue, for me. It's an issue of democracy. We're ousting lawmakers who were ELECTED because we don't like their opinions or the laws they support? CO is doing this in special elections with a very small voter turnout. Elections paid for by the NRA? How is this even possible? I'm torn between rage and just wanting to say "oh fuck it" and leave.

[alexvdl]

We're ousting lawmakers who were ELECTED because we don't like their opinions or the laws they support?

That's how elections work...

[pimmie]

Normal elections, sure. These lawmakers would have been on the ballot next year anyway. As I noted, this is a special election that was bought by the NRA and had a very poor turnout. This is not how elections work. Now, every time someone is pissed about what a lawmaker is doing, they can rally a special interest group to have a recall election and know that it will likely work.

The ONLY solace I have is that the laws are still there. The recall got rid of the lawmakers but didn't get rid of the gun restrictions.

[skellington1]

Some times I just want to take the last vestiges of my hope for sanity and curl up in a hole.