Colorado’s Gun-Control Recall: The Canary in the Coal Mine for Reformers?

The Atlantic ^ | August 7, 2013 | Joshua Spivak

[Clintonfatigued]

After nearly two decades of continual victories in state legislatures, gun-rights proponents have suddenly hit some turbulence. Despite paralysis on the issue in Washington, mass shootings in Aurora, Colorado, Sandy Hook, Connecticut, and elsewhere have led five states to tighten their gun laws.

Four of those states are liberal bastions, but the fifth is the formerly red state of Colorado, home of not only Aurora but also the Columbine massacre. Unsurprisingly, the Centennial State is also where the gun lobby is looking to make a statement in return – with recalls set to take place September 10 against two state legislators, including term-limited state Senate President John Morse, a Democrat.

From a legislative standpoint, these recalls wouldn’t have much practical effect. Even if both are successful, Democrats will retain control of the Senate. Furthermore, Democrats hold both the governor’s office and the lower house of the state legislature, so gun-control policy is unlikely to change post-recall. This is more a symbolic recall. Proponents hope it will have national implications, scaring other officials in swing districts throughout the country away from gun measures. In fact, this won’t be the first time gun-rights proponents have used this playbook -- we saw a near-carbon copy back in 1994. The aftermath of that recall two decades ago might show just what the gun-rights community can hope to accomplish.

In 1993 and 1994, Democrats passed a number of gun-control laws both at the federal and state level. The new laws were an issue in races throughout the country in November 1994 when Republicans swept the House and Senate, as well as many state-level races.

[AuH2ORepublican]

“Both seats are up in 2014, why not try to recall Senators that aren’t up till 2016 instead?”

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I assume that if they could, they would, so, using inductive reasoning, I will posit that the Colorado state constitution’s recall provisions are similar to the recall provisions in the Wisconsin state constitution in that they do not allow an officer who has served less than one full year of the term to be recalled. If you recall (HA!), WI Democrats first tried to recall WI Senators who were in the third year of their term, and it wasn’t until the next year that they could try to recall Governor Walker and the Senators that had been elected in 2010.

[Impy]

Makes sense.

This thread has gotten very punny!

[GeronL]

So why is the Liberaltarian Party trying to stop the recall??

http://www.gopusa.com/news/2013/08/09/co-libertarian-party-tries-to-stop-gun-control-recall-elections/?subscriber=1

[Clintonfatigued]

I support the right to recall, since politicians can’t be trusted to safeguard their own ethics. At the same time, they should require far more signatures and should be conducted for more reasons than mere policy disagreements, like ethics violations or blatantly lying to win reelection.

Sometimes, recall elections can backfire and benefit the incumbent, as was the case with Scott Walker.

[Clintonfatigued]

“So why is the Liberaltarian Party trying to stop the recall??”

I have no idea. I’m becoming increasingly libertarian in my outlook and this stance makes no sense to me. Perhaps theree are bad elements in the Colorado Libertarian Party.

[Impy]

It says they want ballot access.

They take more votes from the GOP so that would not be good.

[Impy]

The WI recall temporarily cost us control of the State Senate so I would hardly call it beneficial.

[bamahead]

“So why is the Liberaltarian Party trying to stop the recall??”

Because I suppose the Colorado Libertarian Party feels there were some illegal shenanigans used to keep their candidates off any recall ballot...

Colorado recall ballots go out as Libertarian Party tries to halt the process

According to the lawsuit, a Libertarian candidate in each district was denied access to the ballot because they missed the 10-day deadline in state statute to submit their petition to get on the ballot after the governor set an election day in July.

The state Constitution allows candidates 15 days to file their petition to get on the ballot.

"It is clear that this hasty rule by the Secretary of State conflicts with the Constitution, and we have filed suit to ensure that we have the full time granted by the people of Colorado," said Libertarian Party State Chairman Jeff Orrok in a prepared statement. "We oppose any attempt by the legislative or executive branches to deny our candidates, our members, and the voters of Districts 3 and 11 their fundamental rights and the ability to choose the best replacements for these overreaching senators."

Joining in the suit are the two would-be Libertarian candidates, Gordon Butt of Colorado Springs and Richard Anglund of Pueblo.