Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) on Friday signed into law four major gun measures designed to make it harder to obtain firearms.
Why it matters: The new laws follow multiple high-profile shootings in Colorado in recent months, and represent the latest in a series of recent actions by states to restrict firearm access as gun violence grows.
Driving the news: The legislation expands Colorado's existing "red flag" law to allow educators, health care professionals, and district attorneys request the seizure of a person's firearms under an extreme risk protection order.
- The other measures raise the minimum age to buy firearms from 18 to 21, impose a three-day waiting period on the purchase of guns, and make it easier to sue gun and ammunition manufacturers, reversing some of the strongest protections in the nation.
- The latest actions build on three measures Polis signed a year ago to tighten gun access.
What they're saying: "Today, Colorado has enacted four common-sense gun reforms, including elimination of some of the barriers to holding gun manufacturers and dealers accountable," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Twitter.
- "Thank you, Colorado leaders and gun violence survivors, for this important step forward," she added.
Of note: Not all Democratic lawmakers supported the legislation, and some questioned their legality.
- Moments after the bill signings, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a Second Amendment advocacy group, filed two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the new waiting period and age requirement.
Context: Colorado's dark history of mass shootings loomed over this year's debate. And the Democratic-controlled legislature made gun restrictions a priority after the November shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs that left five dead and raised questions about the state's existing "red flag" law.
- The legislation took on added import after a series of shootings involving East High School students.
The big picture: Colorado's efforts to reduce gun violence are part of a broader effort in states to take action where the federal government has not.
- Earlier this week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed into law a ban on the sale of AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles, making it the 10th state to do so.
- In March alone, at least 57 people were killed in 38 mass shootings nationwide, per data from the Gun Violence Archive.
Yes, but: Gun regulations remain a contentious issue in western states, and Colorado Democratic leaders — including Polis — opposed a measure this year to ban assault-style weapons.
- A pending bill to ban the sale of ghost guns — used in both the Club Q and an East high School shooting — is expected to pass later this legislative session.
- The governor also recently signed two measures to create an Office of School Safety and require more training of school resource officers.
Go deeper: Fox News poll finds voters overwhelmingly want restrictions on guns
