Two Pro-Gun Control Colorado Democratic Senators Ousted

After a recall election promoted by grassroots activists and gun-rights lobbying groups, two Democratic lawmakers in Colorado who backed tighter gun control restrictions have been voted out of office.

The two recall election campaigns were the first ever against Colorado state lawmakers.

Colorado Senate president John Morse lost by 343 votes on Tuesday in Colorado Springs and fellow Sen. Angela Giron lost by a larger number in a district that typically favors Democrats.

The National Rifle Association hailed the recall and said the election sent a clear message that lawmakers should work to protect gun rights and be accountable to their constituents, "not the dollars or social engineering agendas of anti-gun billionaires."The "anti-gun billionaires" statement was a swipe at New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who supported Morse and Giron.

"The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is proud to have stood with the men and women in these legislative districts who sent a clear message that their Second Amendment rights are not for sale in Colorado," wrote the NRA in a statement released Wednesday. "We look forward to working with NRA-PVF A rated and endorsed Bernie Herpin (R) from Colorado Springs and NRA-PVF AQ rated and endorsed George Rivera (R) from Pueblo in the Colorado state Senate."