Maddow leads into her take on events in Colorado by noting an attempt to recall pro-gun reform town councilors in Exeter, Rhode Island. The effort failed, yet similar recall bids here in Colorado resulted in the ouster of Senator John Morse and Representative Angela Giron, both of whom backed successful gun legislation here, and the resignation of Senator Evie Hudak, also targeted with recall.
In the context of recapping this history, Maddow wonders whether what happened in Colorado will short-circuit further tries to reform gun laws elsewhere, because politicians don't want to lose their offices by angering Second Amendment boosters and the firearms lobby, or if the Exeter example demonstrates that the tide has turned against such recalls.Addressing such questions in a concluding interview is Representative Rhonda Fields, who sponsored a number of the Colorado gun measures that passed. Along the way, Fields expresses disappointment that Morse and Giron wound up paying for their support with their jobs -- but she also stresses her belief that gun reformers are on the right side of history.
Also spotlighted in the segment: Weld County Sheriff John Cooke, who was front and center in a New York Times piece about local sheriffs across the country who are refusing to enforce gun laws they consider to be unconstitutional. Maddow notes something omitted from the Times article: Cooke, who's running for the state senate, has made statements expressing understanding, if not outright support, for counties wanting to secede from Colorado and create the 51st state, largely over their objection to new gun legislation.
Here's the complete segment from last night's program.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
More from our Politics archive circa November: "51st State Initiative touts 'OVERWHELMING success,' works to broaden secession."
