Gun Rights in Ascendance

Although Colorado Senate Republicans will not likely reverse the Democrats’ 2013 gun control measures, by raising the issue they are communicating to their base their commitment to protecting gun rights. And the good news for Republicans is that gun rights as a value proposition is in ascendance with the public. Hence, the issue, even with little legislative success, helps Republicans. It also may serve to reinforce Democrats’ vulnerability with middle class voters, both blue and white collar, and especially men.

Support for Gun Rights

Pew Research asked a question on the basic alternatives concerning gun control and gun rights.  Protecting gun rights has increased in public support by seven points in the last two years from January 2013 to December 2014, or from approximately a month after the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut to the end of 2014. In Colorado, that includes the 2013 legislative session that approved several gun control laws.

In a second question probing people’s views concerning guns offering  protection from “being a crime victim” or guns putting “people’s safety at risk,” guns as a protection from crime increased nine points in two years from December 2012 to December 2014.

Colorado’s gun control laws may stay, but it’s a problem issue for Democrats, especially from rural and suburban legislative districts.