Colorado governor signs gun-control bills

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DENVER, March 20 (UPI) -- Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed three gun-control bills into law Wednesday, despite warnings at least one will force manufacturers to leave the state.

The legislation includes limiting ammunition magazines to 15 rounds, universal background checks for gun sales or transfers and requirements of gun customers to assume the costs of background checks.

The Democratic governor's approval of the bills, agreed upon by the Colorado legislature after rancorous debate, has incurred the wrath of Republicans who came by the hundreds to testify against the measures, The Denver Post said Wednesday.

Pollster Floyd Ciruli said Hickenlooper's next challenges will come when Democrat-sponsored bills on oil and gas, and on the state's death penalty, come before lawmakers.

"We're just getting warmed up here," Ciruli said. "The Democrats have got the bit in their mouth and they are moving down the road."

The magazine bill has produced the most anger, the newspaper said, after Colorado-based magazine maker Magpul threatened to move if the measure passes.

"Our moving efforts are underway. Within 30 days we will manufacture our first magazine outside the state of Colorado. This ordeal has taught us to be more diverse geographically," said Doug Smith, Magpul's chief operating officer.