The state of Colorado adopted tougher gun control laws after the mass shooting in Aurora on July 20, 2012, when James Holmes killed 12 people and injured dozens more in a movie theater.
A largely Democratic Colorado legislature fended off challenges from those who wanted less restriction to enact some of the nation's most stringent gun laws in 2013. Some restrictions include more extensive background checks on all gun sales, prohibiting dangerous people from purchasing weapons, and limiting the size of high-capacity ammunition magazines, or "assault" rifles.
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In a national review of state laws in 30 weapon-related categories,
Colorado received a "C" grade from the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. States were awarded points for having effective measures in place, with greater points given for tougher laws.
The final letter grades represented a state's overall strength or weakness. California earned an A- and has the strongest gun reform measures in the country, while Arizona, Alaska, Wyoming, and South Dakota are more lax.
In the weeks after the Aurora shooting, citizens raised questions regarding the availability of ammunition, both in person and online. While Holmes bought his weapons legally at gun stores, he ordered his ammunition — 3,000 rounds each of handgun and rifle ammunition and 350 shotgun shells, and a 100-round magazine — from online retailers in parts in the months leading up to the shooting. The total came to about $3,000.
While gun laws vary from state to state, laws concerning the sale of ammunition are less common.
Colorado is one of 42 states that doesn't ban or regulate assault rifles, which are semi-automatic firearms designed to allow rapid and accurate spray firing.
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