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Federal judge upholds Colorado's new gun laws.

Courtesy of SF Gate:

A federal judge upheld Colorado gun restrictions that were enacted in response to 2012 mass shootings, saying Thursday that limiting the size of ammunition magazines and expanding background checks on firearm purchases are constitutional acts.

But gun-rights advocates who sued the state to overturn the laws called the ruling only the first round and said they planned to appeal.

In a 50-page decision, U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger said both laws don't infringe on individuals' right to bear arms. The judge further said that limiting magazine sizes doesn't obstruct individuals' ability to protect themselves, and that the expansion of background checks to include firearms sold online and between private parties "is no more severe" than the requirements already in place for commercial sales before the new law.

Gun rights advocates and county sheriffs filed the lawsuit to overturn the laws, which Democrats passed last year without Republican support.

Two Democratic state senators who voted for the laws were recalled from office. A third Democratic lawmaker resigned while a recall effort was ongoing.

Former state Sen. John Morse, one of the recalled lawmakers, welcomed the ruling.

"You can't have a 100-round magazine and walk into a movie theater and start killing people. That's not what the Second Amendment is about," Morse said.

Even before the ruling, Morse said he remained unwavering in his support for the laws even if they cost him his seat.

"I knew when we were doing it that it was the right thing to do. There's no question," he said.

Of course there's no question about it. It is bringing sanity to an insane situation in this country.

And it is very sad that John Morse had to sacrifice his career to help fight to protect potential future victims against gun violence.

All I have to say it that it is nice to hear something positive about gun control laws for a change.

It gives me a little hope for the future.

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