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Colorado Lawmaker Who Champions Gun Control To Meet With President Obama

By Shaun Boyd

DENVER (CBS4) - President Obama says he will move forward on new gun control measures without Congress after meeting Monday with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Obama said he would defy the Republican-controlled Congress and implement new gun control by executive action. The president wants gun dealers to be licensed and conduct background checks on buyers. He wants to keep people with mental health restrictions from possessing guns and he wants to hire 230 more FBI employees to process background checks.

Obama has asked to meet with a Colorado state lawmaker in advance of his announcement on gun control.

Rep. Rhonda Fields, a Democrat from Aurora, led the charge at the state Capitol in 2013 to pass controversial gun control measures, including background checks on all gun sales and limits on high-capacity magazines.

RHONDA FIELDS ON GUNS 5PKG.transfer
The White House's invitation (credit: CBS)

Fields says she received an invitation Saturday to meet with the president and Lynch to discuss the president's planned executive action on gun control, including expanded background checks.

"I'm really proud of the work we've done here in Colorado and if we can get background checks passed as a nation, that would be great progress," Fields said. "So I think that's easy to do because even gun owners say background checks are a good thing to do. It polls extremely well."

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She says the president is also considering making it more difficult for suspected terrorists on the no-fly list to access guns.

"He would like to see there be some sort of delay before those folks get access to a gun. I support that kind of measure," Fields said.

Republicans are vowing a fight. In Colorado GOP lawmakers have tried to overturn the gun control laws for the last two years, but have failed. Fields says she expects they will try again this year.

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CBS4's Shaun Boyd interviews Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora (credit: CBS)

"I think there are people who want to appeal the progress we've made. I don't think they'll be very successful because I think what we have on the book has proven to save lives and keeps our communities safer," she said.

Fields said she will also urge the president to consider a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault style weapons when she meets with him.

The 2016 legislative session in Colorado opens next Wednesday.

Shaun Boyd is CBS4's political specialist. She's a veteran reporter with more than 25 years of experience. Follow her on Twitter @cbs4shaun.

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