Guns and safety will be a big topic in the next legislative session and it’s important that Coloradans have their voice heard. Our state laws are evidence-based and use common sense because lawmakers have engaged with gun owners and advocates. Unfortunately, Congressman Ken Buck has abdicated his legislative duties nationally and automatically votes “no” to even the most basic and beneficial bills like Universal Background Checks (HR-8) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Not only does this expose his constituents to unnecessary risks, but it also gives up Colorado’s “seat at the table” for future bills around guns and safety. Buck’s refusal to listen prevents us from having any productive input into future bills dealing with gun violence.

We need to vote in legislators that are not afraid to dive into these gun bills and make good laws out of them. We need candidates like Ike McCorkle who has real experience with guns through his military training. We need to vote out Ken Buck who hides under the prop AR-15 in his office while voting against bills that real Colorado gun owners support. Ike can make sure that the gun safety bills that get passed in Washington are both reasonable and effective by engaging with other lawmakers to provide real-world facts and evidence-based data. Ike, a combat-wounded veteran, will represent us in Congress instead of running away from the fight and letting other legislators shape the future of gun safety laws.

Sarah Wu

Castle Rock