McHenry Times

Illinois 16th Congressional District Republican candidate Catalina Lauf voiced her opposition to calls for increased gun control measures following the latest mass shooting incident.

On March 22, a 21-year-old suspect entered a Boulder, Colorado grocery store and allegedly opened fire, killing 10 people, including one officer. The suspect was arrested.

Democrats and gun-control advocates across the U.S. have denounced the incident and are renewing the rallying call for tighter gun control policies. Lauf took to Twitter to voice her opinion on their position.

"Gun control should not be a *political discussion* it is a gross infringement on the Rights of Man and law abiding citizens," Lauf said in a March 23 Twitter post. "No matter what side of the aisle you're on, please know the facts. Your, our liberties matter."

Gun control critics point out that more legislation is not the answer as the state of Colorado already requires universal background checks.

This requirement did not deter the incident and critics said that Democrats are using the incident as a tactic to call for more gun control.

"EVERY Republican must stand firm on our 2nd Amendment as the Democrats spend this week politicizing a tragedy," Lauf said in a separate March 23 Twitter post.

Following the mass shooting, President Joe Biden called on the Senate to pass two House-approved measures that would expand background checks, CBS News reported.

"This is not and should not be a partisan issue," Biden said in a national address. "This is an American issue. It will save lives, American lives, and we have to act."

On March 12, a Colorado judge blocked Boulder's two-year-old ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, CBS News reported.

Boulder County District Court Judge Andrew Hartman ruled that the 2018 ban was invalid because it was contrary to state law.

Investigators determined that the suspect purchased an assault rifle on March 16, days after the ban was lifted.