Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on Monday signed onto a letter to Congress from 21 attorneys general who want to see action on Jaime’s Law.

The proposed law, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, is named for Jaime Guttenberg, a 14-year-old student who died in the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 students and teachers and wounded 14 others.  

The law would make it illegal for individuals who are already “prohibited purchasers” of firearms under federal law to buy or possess ammunition. The letter to congressional leaders in the U.S. House and Senate said that those who wish to purchase ammunition must already be licensed to own a firearm or pass a background check. Prohibited purchasers, according to the letter, include convicted felons, domestic abusers and those with serious mental health conditions.

“We believe that extending these requirements to ammunition will reduce gun violence and suicide, making our communities safer. There is no reason a convicted felon or anyone else who is not legally permitted to purchase a firearm” should be able to purchase ammunition, the letter continued. All of the signatories to the attorneys’ general letter are Democrats. 

Jaime’s Law will not infringe on a law-abiding citizen’s right to own firearms, nor on states’ rights to regulate firearms, the letter said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse of Lafayette is the only member of Colorado’s congressional delegation to sign on as a co-sponsor of the legislation. A Senate version – S.1924 – is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Neither of Colorado’s U.S. senators are co-sponsors.