CFCU April 2023 Digest
Gun Violence Continues and So Does Our Work
As we struggle to find words in the aftermath of back-to-back shootings in Denver and Nashville in a nation that seems content to sacrifice its children on the altar of gun idolatry, we look to find the hope and strength needed to continue our fight for communities of peace.
Below are videos and readings representing several faiths that we hope you find meaningful. When you’re ready, take a look at some of the action steps we can take right now.
Prayers, Poems, and Reflections
Honor the victims of gun violence with action right now
Display your Protect Children, Not Guns signs
Display your Protect Children, Not Guns signs again, which East High School students carried in their march to the Capitol on March 3. You can order one or more signs by sending a check for $10 per sign, made out to First Universalist Church with “CFCU Sign” in the memo line. Mail to: First Universalist, 4101 East Hampden Ave., Denver, CO 80222. Please also email Susan Oakes (soakes1219@gmail.com) to let her know how many you are ordering.
Email your State Representative and Senator
Email your State Representative and Senator to let them know how important you believe passing gun safety laws is. If they have been supporters of these bills, thank them for spending long hours to stand up to gun violence. Find your legislators here.
Get involved with Guns to Gardens
Spread the word and/or donate to Guns to Gardens, an event in which we dismantle unwanted guns. Spread the word about the next event at Most Precious Blood on Saturday, April 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Email raniblack@icloud.com to get some flyers to post around your part of town. Consider joining the team for the next event in June.
Volunteer for Denver’s HIP
Sign up to be a volunteer for Denver’s HIP (Handgun Intervention Program) that helps youth convicted of first time firearm offenses chart a new path. Over 15 CFCU members have volunteered or are volunteering since HIP’s founding in 2021. (Contact nancyhls@comcast.net for more information.)
Join CFCU’s Advocacy Team
Join CFCU's Advocacy Team to support common-sense, evidence-based gun violence prevention bills at the State and Federal level. (Contact research@swgreenberg.com for more information)
The Risk of Suicide in Older Adults: Gun Safety, QPR and Mental Health
According to the 2021 Profile of Gun Violence in Colorado, ”The population aged 75 and over had the highest firearm death rate of any age group in 2021, because it had by far the highest rate of firearm suicide. Firearm suicides accounted for 98% of all firearm deaths in that age group.” (Profile of Gun Violence in Colorado 2021 CFCU Report)
If you are interested in learning more about the real people behind the statistics, you are invited to attend a presentation at First Congregational Church, UCC in Boulder on Sunday, April 16, at 1:30. Former Denver Broncos player, Bucky Dilts, will share his personal story and reveal the alarming rate of suicide by guns of older adults in Colorado and the factors that contribute.
There will be a panel discussion with Bucky, Rep. Judith Amabile and Jay Winsted discussing mental health, gun safety and how to change the outcomes for us all.
Rep. Amabile is the Representative from District 49 in the Colorado House of Representatives and is an advocate for mental health and gun safety.
Jay Winsted is from Mental Health Partners of Boulder and will discuss QPR, the CPR of mental health. This presentation on Sunday, April 16 at 1:30pm at First Congregational Church is sponsored by its Gun Violence Prevention Ministry, Mental Health Ministry, and Ministry of Last Things.
Please join us for this very important conversation. Register here - when registering, please make sure to click next until your screen reads "thank you for registering". You will also receive an email confirmation. For more information contact Carol Young at ccyoung2010@gmail.com.
Sunday, 4/16, 1:30-3:30 PM
First Congregational Church UCC, Boulder
1128 Pine Street, Boulder
Written by Carol Young, First Congregational Church UCC, Boulder
A Community Discussion: East HS Shooting, Guns, Youth Violence, Mental Health and the Black Community
Over 250 people attended a meeting at New Hope Baptist Church, on Tuesday, March 28, to address the issues of gun violence, mental health and the black community in the wake of the latest shootings at East High School. Attending CFCU members: Alana Smart, Eileen and Bill McCarron, Dr. Mike Earnest, Joan Bradt, Gene Drumm, Susan Oakes, Rev. Anne Scalfaro, Rev. Terri Hobart, Arthur Alarcon, Mary Svoboda and other members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. It was organized by John Bailey who is an advocate for youth in Park Hill.
The speakers included: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Chief of Police Ron Thomas, two psychologists, a dean of students at East, the chairman of a youth football program, the founder of Struggle of Love Foundation and members of Young Black Men from East High School.
Conversation focused on the need for safety in our schools and what young African American male students need to feel part of the community and to be able to graduate from high school. There are many factors which lead them to struggle, and fear of being shot leads many of them to carry firearms. They were asking for community members to listen to them and to support them in their quest to be safe and successful at school.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Park Hill recently received a grant from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention for gun locks. Some of their members attended the meeting, and were able to provide gun locks to attendees who wanted them. CFCU volunteers have been working with youth convicted of first time firearm offenses through the HIP (Handgun Intervention Program) since its founding two years ago. (See the March digest for information about this program).
Stressing that there’s not one answer, speakers highlighted these needs to address rising gun violence:
More mental health/supportive services and trauma informed care for youth
More culturally congruent services
Destigmatizing mental health services
Life skills/critical thinking classes
Committed adults who believe in and work well with youth on a one-to-one basis
Listening with an open mind to what youth say they need from adult community members
Safer and more loving communities; working together
Increased utilization of ERPO and Safe2Tell and safe storage
Watch the 9 News Video about this event
Written by Susan Oakes, 1st Plymouth Congregational Church UCC
Summary of Legislative Actions from the CFCU Advocacy Team
Some teachers and students rally at the state Capitol Friday morning, March 24, 2023.
It's been a hectic legislative session for gun violence prevention bills, with less than six weeks to go until the regular session adjourns. The legislative process is nearly complete for four common-sense, evidence-based GVP bills. When the originating chamber agrees on amendments that have been added to each of the bills and votes in favor of the final wording of the bills, they’ll be on their way to the Governor’s desk. The four bills are:
SB23-168, Gun Violence Victims' Access to Judicial System: The firearm industry has sweeping immunity from civil liability law suits, which no other industry has. The bill repeals that unique form of immunity from this industry in Colorado and requires that the firearms industry establish industry standards of responsible conduct in the manufacture, distribution, marketing, and sale of guns, ammunition, and accessories to firearms.
SB23-169, Increasing Minimum Age to Purchase a Firearm: The bill raises the minimum age for legal purchase or possession of a firearm from 18 to 21. The exceptions to the age minimum for purchase include being an active member of the military or law enforcement. There are many exceptions to the age minimum for possession of a firearm (e.g., attending a hunter or gun safety class, possessing a hunter education certificate - for which there is no minimum age, participating in shooting competitions, hunting as allowed by law, being an active member of the military or law enforcement). People who are ages 18-20 when the bill is enacted in 2023 are also exceptions to the new age minimum for possession.
SB23-170, Extreme Risk Protection Order Petitions: Under current law, a family or household member and a law enforcement officer or agency can petition for an extreme risk protection order. The bill expands the list of who can petition for an ERPO to include licensed medical care providers, licensed mental health-care providers, licensed educators, and district attorneys. The bill requires the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to conduct a public information campaign annually about ERPO. It also requires the Department of Public Safety to establish a hotline to provide callers with information about filing for an ERPO.
HB23—1219, Establishing a Three-Day Waiting Period to Deliver a Purchased Firearm: Delivering a firearm prior to the expiration of the waiting period is a civil infraction, punishable by a $500 fine for a first offense and a $500 to $5,000 fine for a second or subsequent offense.
Two other gun violence prevention bills are still in the early stages of the legislative process and have not yet had committee hearings in the originating chamber, in both cases, the House of Representatives.
Colorado Senate President, Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, center, speaks during a press conference with fellow lawmakers to discuss gun violence prevention legislation at the Capitol on Feb. 23, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Written by Stephanie Greenberg, Congregation Bonai Shalom
This month’s featured CFCU Member Congregation: Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church
Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church has been working to end gun violence for many years. The photo below shows members of “Montview Pres” at the March for Our Lives in 2018. By then they had been involved with CFCU for three years, and became an endorsing congregation in early 2017.
Located in Park Hill on Montview Boulevard, they are a congregation of about 1600 members, who are busy working for justice in many ways. Just have a look at their website and you will see that they are supporting those who are experiencing homelessness, immigrants, seniors who need housing and food…the list goes on. And they are working with CFCU to prevent gun violence.
Montview Presbyterian promotes ending gun violence.
They have speakers including Tom Mauser and Eileen McCarren, and have a busy Rapid Response Network. Just in the last months their team has participated in the CFCU Sandy Hook Vigil, sent members to community forums around gun violence, and participated in Lobby Day at the Capitol. “After all,” said Susie Pappas, long time MBPC member who was interviewed for this story, “most of the kids in our neighborhood attend East High School. We want people to become aware and advocate for change.” Co-Pastors Clover Reuter Beal and Ian G. Cummins have preached about gun violence. After Uvalde Pastor Ian told the congregation in an impassioned homily “This HAS to change.” And members of Montview know that it is their work to do. Pastor Clover reminded her congregation that “our call is not to GO to church; our call is to BE the Church.“ CFCU is very grateful for the active and enthusiastic participation of Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church as one of our Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence!
Susie Pappas at March for Our Lives 2018.
Written by Rita Niblack, Most Precious Blood Catholic Church