On Election Day in November 2000, in the wake of the Columbine massacre, the citizens of Colorado — by a 70% to 30% vote — chose to close the gun show loophole in the Brady Bill.

Unfortunately, the Colorado state legislature is now trying to overturn this overwhelmingly popular mandate.

The federal government does not regulate gun shows, the main loophole in the Brady Bill. Vendors at gun shows aren’t required to be licensed, allowing them to avoid the federal firearms control laws. Thus, the non-licensed dealers at these shows do not need to perform any criminal background checks.

The people of Colorado saw this loophole and decided to enact state legislation to close it. Amendment 22 passed, making Colorado the first state to close the loophole by a citizen mandate.

Amendment 22 is a wise piece of legislation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has released a report saying gun shows provide a forum for illegal firearms sales and trafficking. Another ATF memo reported that gun shows were associated with the distribution of roughly 26,000 illegal firearms. The ATF has gone on to recommend the gun show loophole in federal law be closed. These factors are sufficient support for the decision of Colorado’s people.

However, legislation has been introduced in Colorado that would overturn Amendment 22. The most extreme legislation calls for the extinction of all local gun laws. Other legislation involves re-writing provisions of Amendment 22.

By a landslide margin, the people of Colorado passed Amendment 22. Now a group of lawmakers — the lackeys of the pro-gun lobby and the National Rifle Association — are trying to destroy the decision of Colorado’s citizens.

Regardless of what side of the gun control issue an individual stands on, the actions of the Colorado legislature are deplorable. The American government is of, by and for the people. That the legislature would spit in the face of its constituents by going along with the gun lobby is a disgrace to democracy.

The opposition in Colorado to the loophole was not from a Gallup poll, a simple survey or any other non-legitimate mandate. The people participated in their democracy and enacted a new law. The legislature has no right to overturn Amendment 22. The Lantern fully supports the people of Colorado in their quest to end gun violence.