Colorado voters recall anti-gun senators; Top Democrat cries voter suppression

Despite receiving some $350,000 from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, voters in Colorado recalled two state senators over their support of gun control legislation Tuesday, The Blaze reported. Nevertheless, some Democrats are claiming voter suppression played a role in the recall effort.

Democratic Senate President John Morse and state Sen. Angela Giron were kicked out of office, with 50.9 percent voting to recall Morse and 56 percent voting to oust Giron.

Republican Bernie Herpin, a former Colorado Springs city councilman, will replace Morse and former Deputy Police Chief George Rivera will take over from Giron, who represented Pueblo.

“We as the Democratic party will continue to fight,” Morse said in his concession speech.

"Perhaps this will serve as a lesson that one-party rule in Denver doesn't give the majority license to take things to extremes or run roughshod over the values and rights of Coloradans who just happen, for the moment, to be in the minority," said Dustin Zvonek, state director of Americans for Prosperity.

"Tonight is a victory for the people of the state of Colorado, who have been subject to the overreach of a Democrat agenda on guns, taxes and accountability to the people," said Tim Knight, Founder of the Basic Freedom Defense Fund and the man the Denver Post called the "father" of the recalls. "Since day one, they said it couldn't be done. Tonight, this is a victory for the people of Colorado, and we share this victory with them."

Even with the recall, Democrats still control the state senate with a one-seat majority.

The gun laws that sparked the recall awakened what Democratic Sen. Lois Tochtrop called a "sleeping giant."

The Adams County Democrat and longtime Second Amendment activist opposed five of the bills introduced by Morris and compared the debate to the movie depiction of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

"I feel like all these gun bills have done — to quote the last words in the movie 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' — is to awaken a sleeping giant," he said.

But Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Wednesday the recall loss was due to “voter suppression, pure and simple,” The Hill reported.

“The recall elections in Colorado were defined by the vast array of obstacles that special interests threw in the way of voters for the purpose of reversing the will of the legislature and the people,” she said.

According to The Hill, the Florida Democrat blamed lawsuits filed by opponents of gun control to prevent voters from mailing in ballots and the late announcement of polling locations.

She also blamed “efforts by the NRA, the Koch brothers and other right wing groups who know that when more people vote, Democrats win.”

The NRA, however, disagreed.

"This effort was driven by concerned citizens, who made phone calls, knocked on doors, and worked diligently to turn voters out in this historic effort,” the gun rights group said in a statement.

Related:

• Colorado Dem. mocks senior citizen at gun control forum over self defense
• Colorado sheriff: Dems threatening raises over opposition to gun control
• Colorado Dem. says number of magazines will decrease as bullets are used up
• Gun control activist calls for measure to 'counterbalance' Second Amendment
• Dana Loesch, Grover Norquist school Piers Morgan, Van Jones on gun control
• Chris Matthews compares gun rights supporters to Nazis, flubs movie reference
• Store rescinds Mark Kelly's AR-15 rifle purchase, questions intent
• Alabama Democrat engages in racist email exchange with citizen on gun control
• Bloomberg gun control ads show unsafe and irresponsible use of shotgun
• David Gregory falsely claims 40 percent of guns sold without background checks
• Wealthy filmmaker Michael Moore: Most guns owned by 'scared' white people
• Rep. Charlie Rangel falsely claims 'millions of kids' killed by assault weapons
• Rainn Wilson, Michael Moore cite parody Onion article on NRA, liberals duped

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