Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) stated the Senate ought to think about defunding police departments in states that don’t implement gun legal guidelines within the wake of the Colorado Springs capturing.
Murphy condemned the actions of some Colorado counties which have declared their standing as “Second Modification sanctuaries” to CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, arguing they had been circumventing state and federal legal guidelines. Greater than half of the state’s counties handed some type of the decision after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a “purple flag” legislation in 2019, which allowed police to briefly take away the weapons of those that might pose a danger to society. The legislation went into impact in 2020.
“Nearly all of counties on this nation declare that they aren't going to implement state and federal gun legal guidelines, they've determined that they will basically refuse to implement the legal guidelines which can be on the books. That may be a rising drawback on this nation,” he stated. “I feel we’re gonna must have a dialog about that in the US Senate. Can we need to proceed to provide basic legislation enforcement in counties that refuse to implement state and federal gun legal guidelines?”
Murphy acknowledged President Joe Biden’s most well-liked answer—banning assault weapons—was not doable within the present Senate, as there possible wasn’t 60 votes. The Colorado Springs capturing occurred in El Paso County, certainly one of 37 counties which have applied a “sanctuary” decision, regardless of what Murphy stated had been widespread “purple flag” legal guidelines.
“You’re simply briefly taking weapons away from folks,“ he stated. “I feel now we have to have a dialog about whether or not we are able to proceed to fund legislation enforcement in these states the place they’re refusing to implement these gun legal guidelines.”
Murphy, an outspoken gun reform advocate, has known as for stripping legislation enforcement funding earlier than. Within the wake of George Floyd’s loss of life in 2020, Murphy proposed laws to finish federal funding for law enforcement officials in colleges, arguing the cash can be higher spent on nurses, steering counselors, and different faculty workers.