President Obama embraces Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper as Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) look on at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colo., July 22, 2012.
Even Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper remains vague on which gun-control measures he can support.
In a State of State state address last month, Hickenlooper focused his attention on strengthening mental health services and announced his support for universal background checks, but restricting some semi-automatic weapons was not part of his message.
Hickenlooper has been careful to wade into the debate slowly and involve gun-right heavyweights in the conversations. He met with National Rifle Association president David Keene Thursday.
"While we might not agree on a number of things, there will certainly be places we can find common ground," Hickenlooper said in a statement after the meeting.
[PHOTOS: U.S. Senate Holds Gun Control Hearing]
Both sides are preparing for the fight by strengthening their lobbying forces in Colorado.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group launched by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has set up shop in the state, hiring two new lobbyists to get their message out at Colorado's state house. And gun industries are hiring lobbyists to protect themselves from restrictive gun bills that could hurt business.
In Colorado guns are not just for sport, they are for safety. Pro-gun groups worry new restrictions will hurt individuals abilities to protect themselves.
"Like many Western states, large numbers of people live long distances from law enforcement. Response times are longer. In some areas, 25 minutes would be a quick response time," Brown says. "What would have stopped the Aurora theater shooting was a person with a gun and a concealed carry permit."
Brown admits "this is shaping up to be a big battle," but says that his Republican allies won't flinch on guns.
Like in the U.S. House of Representatives, Colorado's Republicans are more conservative then they were a decade ago and they are more ready to fight against new gun laws.
"The swing districts are represented by Democrats," says Laura Chapin, a Democratic strategist who is working in the state to pass stronger gun laws. "What you have left are very hardcore conservatives from very conservative districts."
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