Credit: AP

Landmark expansion of firearms background checks passes in Colorado; governor expected to sign.
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Expanded background checks for private and online firearm purchases in Colorado has just one more hurdle to clear before hitting the governor's desk.

The bill was approved a second time by the Senate Friday, 19-14.

The background-check requirement has already passed both chambers, but in slightly different forms. That prompted another round of votes Friday to get the bill to Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who supports the bill.

Senate Republicans tried and failed on a last-minute effort to delay or defeat the bill. They say the background-check requirement can't be enforced without universal gun registration, which they oppose. Democrats insist that growing online gun sales and sales outside stores and gun shows have created a big loophole of gun transfers without background checks.