Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado said Tuesday the gun debate shows the urban-rural divide on the issue and goes beyond Congress and the National Rifle Association.
“People living in the urban-suburban areas, I think, have to go listen harder and understand better the relationship — a lot of people who hunt and live in the rural areas, they don’t want someone in the cities coming in and telling them anything to do with their guns,” Mr. Hickenlooper said on CNN.
He did say the NRA “aggressively organized” and inspires “an amazing level of loyalty,” but he said this is possible because of people’s closely held Second Amendment position that gives them the right to bear arms.
“Clearly, there is something to do with people’s Second Amendment rights and their relationship with their weapons that is very important to people all over the country,” he said.
Mr. Hickenlooper attended the White House meeting with President Trump and governors from around the nation to address the issue of gun violence. The gun debate has taken up renewed political prominence in the aftermath of the shooting at a Florida high school nearly two weeks ago where 17 people died.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.