The U.S. Department of Justice last week demanded Denver and Colorado end longstanding bans on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines and threatened to sue should officials fail to comply, prompting defiance from city and state leaders who on Monday vowed to defend the years-old laws.
“We’re here today to let them know that our answer is, ‘Hell no,’” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said during a press conference Monday. “No, we will not roll back a common-sense policy that has kept weapons of war off of these city streets for 37 years.”
Since 1989, Denver has restricted the possession and sale of guns with magazines carrying more than 15 rounds — which includes AR-15-style rifles as well as other types of guns. State law has restricted the possession or sale of large-capacity magazines since 2013, the law passing in the wake of the 2012 Aurora theater shooting in which one attacker killed 12 people and injured another 70…