Quiet Approach to Gun Control Achieves Loud Result

Colorado State Representative Nolbert Chavez eased up on his gun control opponents and passed the first gun control legislation in his state in the wake of the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School.

In Colorado, right-to-bear-arms sentiments prevailed even as the nation mourned the 12 students and teacher killed by two teenage gunmen at the high school. Several gun control and gun safety bills were contentiously fought and defeated in the 1991 legislative session. Chavez’ bill, H.B. 1240, which allows authorities to review juvenile records of potential gun buyers, was passed earlier this year.

“I flew under the radar screen,” said Chavez who is serving his third term in the Colorado House of Representatives. Usually outspoken – as when sharply criticizing opponents for their “radical agenda” to end bilingual education in the state – Chavez was decidedly quiet about his gun control bill. “I didn’t hype it. I didn’t try to get any media attention during the debates. I was very quiet about it until after it passed,” he said.

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Chavez co-sponsored several other safety measures, including a domestic violence bill, H.B.1158, which allows for domestic violence offenders to receive harsher penalties after three strikes; a weapons possession bill, H.B.1201, which prohibits felons from possessing firearms; and another measure against juvenile delinquents, H.B.1235, which calls for fingerprinting juveniles convicted of felonies.

Chavez is proudest of his legislation gun control, however, to identify those persons who shouldn’t buy a gun so we can stop them from getting them,” he said. “If this legislation can prevent just one death, then it will be worth it.”