Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D)

There are signs that Congress may be backing off support for a renewed assault weapons ban, and even a proposal to require universal background checks for gun purchases may be in peril.

But out West, one state is taking the lead, not waiting for Congress to act. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) today signed into law legislation that will expand background checks and limit the size of ammunition magazines. As Salon’s David Sirota points out, Hickenlooper was at firstAi??hesitantAi??to embrace reform, but polling showed that it was popular and he was eventually pushed by activists to help pass it.

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