MILWAUKEE — Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper says there are lessons for Colorado lawmakers facing recalls to draw from the unsuccessful recall effort against Republican Gov. Scott Walker last year.

Hickenlooper joined Walker and other governors at a news conference Friday before the start of the National Governors Association meeting in Milwaukee.

Two Democratic Colorado state senators are facing recall elections over support for new gun legislation Hickenlooper backed that expanded background checks and limited the size of ammunition magazines.

Hickenlooper says the lawmakers should not back away from the issues, make their points strongly and get the word out. He says those are all lessons to be taken from Walker's successful defeat of the 2012 recall.

Walker is the first governor to ever defeat a recall.