One of Colorado’s top Democrats will face a recall election, after an impressive demonstration of opposition from his constituents. Yesterday, gun-rights advocates turned in twice as many signatures as were needed to put the state-senate president, John Morse, on the ballot later this year.

After Colorado passed some strict new gun-control measures following the Newtown shooting, residents decided to try recalling vulnerable Democratic legislators who supported the bill, with Morse being chief among them. “Legislators need to know when citizens are outraged that they can’t ignore the people,” one of the recall’s organizers said last month.

Morse, who is the first lawmaker in Colorado’s history to be put up for a recall election, stood by his position, and said the election will “turn into a national race,” given the nationwide interest in the gun-control issue.

The recall’s organizers claim that their opposition to Morse was a homegrown effort with no outside support. “I ran this campaign. The NRA did not run this campaign,” said another organizer. “We the people are making a stand against the people who refused to represent their constituents.”

No date for the recall has been set by the Colorado’s secretary of state; the latest possible date is in October.