Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed new gun laws Wednesday that allow expanded background checks on gun purchases and limit the size of gun magazines. 

"This didn't come from the White House," said Hicklooper, who defended the new laws at a press conference. He said state residents were largely supportive of the legislature and shot down speculation that politicians received pressure from outside the state.

Vice President Joe Biden lobbied lawmakers in February to get the bills through the House of Representatives. Republicans generally opposed the bills, as did some Colorado sheriffs, who said they did not plan to enforce new gun-control laws in their districts.

The landmark legislation comes on the heels of the death of Tom Clements, the executive director of Colorado's Department of Corrections. Clements was shot and killed in his home Tuesday night after answering a doorbell ring, said police. 

Hickenlooper said Clements' slaying was an "act of intimidation." Since the governor appointed Clements to the position in 2011, he continued to reform Colorado's prisons and remained supportive, "but not particularly active" of the gun measures.

Police did not name any suspects, nor did they believe robbery was a motive in the killing.

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