Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) said the Senate should consider reducing funding for police departments in states that do not enforce gun laws in the wake of the Colorado Springs shooting.
Murphy condemned the actions of several Colorado counties that declared their status a “Second Amendment reserve” to CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, alleging they were circumventing state and federal laws. state. More than half of the state’s counties passed some form of resolution after Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a “red flag” law in 2019, allowing police to temporarily take away guns from people who pose a risk to society. The law takes effect in 2020.
“The majority of counties in this country have stated that they will not enforce state and federal gun laws, they have decided that they will essentially refuse to enforce the laws that are in the books. It’s a growing problem in this country,” he said. “I think we’re going to have to talk about that in the US Senate. Do we want to continue to provide basic law enforcement services in counties that refuse to implement state and federal gun laws?”
Murphy conceded President Joe Biden’s preferred solution—a ban on assault weapons—is not viable in the current Senate, as it may not get the full 60 votes. The Colorado Springs shooting happened in El Paso County, one of 37 counties that have implemented a “reserve” solution, despite what Murphy says are popular “red flag” laws.
“You’re just taking away people’s guns temporarily,” he said. “I think we have to discuss whether we can continue to fund law enforcement in states that are refusing to enforce these gun laws.”
Murphy, an outspoken gun reform advocate, has called for a stripping of previous law enforcement funding. Following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Murphy proposed legislation ending federal funding for police officers in schools, arguing that the money would be better spent on nurses, guidance counselors and other school staff.
