Giffords Celebrates Victorious Legislative Session in Colorado
Denver, CO—GIFFORDS, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, lauded Colorado lawmakers for passing critical gun safety bills this legislative session. Today, Giffords Gun Owners for Safety joined as the Colorado Governor signed a bill into law effectively banning ghost guns in the state, capping off a session which included the passage of several life-saving lawsincluding the GIFFORDS-championed Jessi Redfield Ghawi Act for Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice and Firearms Industry Accountability.
Nico Bocour, Giffords Vice President, State Initiatives:
“Colorado has seen far too many acts of violence. From the heartbreaking mass shooting in Aurora, the horrific attack against the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado Springs, and everyday gun violence, Coloradans have demanded change. This legislative session, state lawmakers have answered those calls. We are delighted with Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Senator Chris Kolker, Representative Jennifer Parenti and Representative Javier Mabrey for the work they’ve done to protect communities and look forward to continuing our work with legislators in the upcoming session.”
Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, Survivors Empowered:
“After our daughter was taken from us in the Aurora movie theater massacre, we sought justice but were revictimized by cruel gun industry immunity laws. This session, we spent each day working with the Colorado House and Senate, who not only passed the Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice bill but took it one step further by naming the law after our beloved daughter Jessi. We are grateful for the tremendous support and swift action on this legislation that will protect victims and families like ours when seeking justice.”
Notably, GIFFORDS worked with lawmakers to pass legislation that would repeal Colorado’s harsh gun industry immunity law. “Jessi’s Law” repeals Colorado’s extreme, anti-victim gun industry immunity law and creates an opportunity for victims to seek fair justice in court when they are harmed by illegal and wrongful conduct by the corporate gun industry. Before the passage of Jessi’s Law, Colorado law provided very broad immunity to the gun industry from many types of liability, slamming courtroom doors shut on cases that even the narrow federal gun industry immunity law (PLCAA) would allow.
Other critical legislation GIFFORDS helped to pass in Colorado this session includes: