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Following Advocacy from Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, Colorado Lawmakers Introduce Critical Gun Safety Package

2.23.2023

Volunteers With the Colorado Chapter of Moms Demand Action and Gun Violence Survivors Stood with Colorado Lawmakers As They Introduced Four Gun Safety Bills Today

DENVER, Colo. – Today, the Colorado chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements applauding Colorado lawmakers for introducing a gun violence prevention legislative package. The package introduction comes following the 2022 year that saw at least 26 mass shootings across the country, including two in Colorado – one in Aurora in October, and another in Colorado Springs in November. Just yesterday, 13 schools across the state went into lockdown due to threats on campus, terrifying students and parents.

“No one should have to fear being shot when going to school. Further, one shouldn’t be worried that those who enable the perpetrators of gun violence won’t be brought to task,” said Alexander Cisneros, a student at Denver East High School and a volunteer with Students Demand Action. “Right now, we Coloradans have an opportunity to prevent and limit dangerous individuals from severely harming others with firearms, and hold their enablers accountable. We have elected lawmakers who prioritize violence prevention measures such as these. Now those lawmakers can take steps to fulfill that promise by passing these bills.”

This comprehensive legislative package includes measures to expand the state’s Extreme Risk law, to raise the firearm purchasing age to 21, to create a mandatory firearm purchase waiting period, and to help hold bad actors in the gun industry accountable for their role in the gun violence crisis.

“Gun violence in all its forms continues to devastate families and communities across Colorado.” said Jane Dougherty, volunteer with the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action and a gun violence survivor. Jane’s sister, Mary, a school psychologist, was shot and killed in 2012 at the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, while protecting her students. “These four bills are critical to continuing the work to save lives. I am so grateful these lawmakers are sponsoring these important bills. My sister was very brave that morning in December. She gave her life. I am asking all Colorado lawmakers to be brave like Mary and vote to save lives and for Governor Polis to sign these lifesaving bills into law.”

With a gun sense majority in both legislative chambers, Colorado lawmakers have the opportunity to pass critical gun violence prevention bills that will go far in saving Coloradan lives and preventing future mass shootings like the tragedy we saw at Club Q in Colorado Springs.

In an average year, 850 people die and 466 are wounded by guns in Colorado. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Colorado, and an average of 69 children and teens die by guns every year, of which 54% are suicides and 42% are homicides. 

Gun violence in Colorado costs $2,039 per person each year. Gun deaths and injuries cost Colorado $11.7 billion each year, of which $156.1 million is paid by taxpayers
More information about gun violence in Colorado is available here.