Coloradans support tougher gun laws

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DENVER, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A majority of Colorado residents express support for gun-owner rights but express greater support for limitations to strengthen gun laws, a poll indicates.

Proposals to ban assault-style rifles, limit the number of cartridges in ammunition magazines and require universal background checks on prospective gun owners met the approval of 60 percent of respondents in a Denver Post poll conducted the day after President Barack Obama's announcement last week to toughen gun-control laws.

Colorado has a large population of hunters, with 56 percent in the survey saying they support the National Rifle Association compared to 30 percent who say they oppose it, but has endured mass shootings at Columbine High School in 1999 and at an Aurora movie theater last year, the newspaper noted.

"Colorado has that weird mix. This is a state known to have hunters who support the Second Amendment but are conscious of what they feel is a need for gun laws," state political analyst Floyd Ciruli said.

In the poll, 83 percent said they support a state or federal law requiring a background check of anyone purchasing a gun, including those buying from a private seller.

The poll, conducted for The Denver Post by SurveyUSA, queried 600 Coloradans by telephone land lines and cellphones. It has a margin or error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.