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Colorado Voters Head to Polls in Historic Recall Elections

If the recalls succeed, they could have a chilling effect on lawmakers throughout the country the next time they vote on gun control measures.

Two Colorado state lawmakers who supported tougher gun control laws following the shooting massacre at a movie theater last year face recall elections on Tuesday, with legislators across the country on both sides of the debate awaiting the outcome.

The recall races, the first in Colorado history, are part of a national debate over gun control that so far has resulted in few new laws being passed. If the recalls succeed, they could have a chilling effect on lawmakers throughout the country the next time they vote on gun control measures.

The recall targets the president of the state senate, Democrat John Morse of Colorado Springs, who helped lead efforts to ban ammunition magazines with more than 15 rounds and to require background checks for private gun sales and transfers in the state.

Democrat Angela Giron of Pueblo also faces a recall in races that have seen a blistering campaign of negative ads from both sides.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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