June is Gun Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

A Message from the Boulder County Commissioners

Ten states, plus the District of Columbia, have enacted laws that generally ban the sale, manufacture, and transfer of assault weapons. Unfortunately, Colorado is not one of them.

As leaders in county government, we are not powerless. We can pass ordinances at a local level that ban assault weapons – but the truth is that none of our counties are islands, and assault weapons purchased in one county can easily be used for violence in another county. To proactively and more effectively put a stop to gun violence in our communities, we need action at the state and federal level.

Assault weapons are exceptionally deadly firearms that are commonplace in mass shootings. The November 2022 hate crime where 22 people were killed or injured at Club Q in Colorado Springs is just one example. Between 2015 and 2022, mass shootings with four or more people killed where an assault weapon was used accounted for a third of all mass shooting deaths nationally and more than 80 percent of all injuries.

In the 26 years since Australia passed laws banning similar weapons, they have had only three mass shootings. Banning assault weapons in Colorado will prevent and reduce mass shooting injuries and deaths and this essential action to protect our residents is long overdue.

The Colorado General Assembly recently passed legislation that, among other things, raises the minimum age for purchasing a firearm, introduces waiting periods for the purchase of firearms, and extends so called ‘red flag’ laws in order to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people or people considering suicide. We supported, lobbied and testified for this legislation and we commend the lawmakers that introduced and supported this legislation and Governor Polis for signing it. But unfortunately, after 15 hours of debate, the Colorado legislature failed to pass the assault weapons ban, which was introduced by Rep. Elisabeth Epps and Senator Rhonda Fields.

We are as frustrated and disappointed by this missed opportunity as the high school students that we speak to who ask, ‘why aren’t you protecting us?’. These are the same students who grew up with active shooter drills. For young people and others throughout our state, we ask that you write to Governor Polis and your other elected representatives and let them know that the time for an assault weapons ban in Colorado is now. You can visit www.usa.gov/elected-officials to find a full list of all of your elected representatives.

If the mention of suicide has impacted you, please call or text 988 to contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Wear Orange

During National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend (June 2-4), you can wear orange to honor survivors of gun violence. The Boulder County Historic Downtown Courthouse (1325 Pearl St) will be lit up orange. Wear Orange events will take place in Louisville (June 3) and Boulder (June 4). Visit the Wear Orange website for details.

2023 Boulder County Gun Violence Awareness and Prevention Month Proclamation

Whereas, firearm-related deaths continue to be the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States; and

Whereas, the United States suffers from an epidemic of gun violence unparalleled in any other developed nation where 48,830 people died in 2021 as a result of gun use, and our nation ranks highest of all wealthy nations for gun-related deaths; and

Whereas, research has demonstrated that the U.S. does not have a higher prevalence of crime or mental illness than other developed countries, but it does have more lethal gun violence (suicides and homicides) than all other developed nations; and

Whereas, suicides make up the highest proportion of deaths related to firearms, followed by homicides and accidental shootings; and

Whereas, data from the Centers on Disease Control demonstrate that states with tighter gun control laws have fewer deaths; and

Whereas, gun violence prevention is an issue of racial justice. Black children are more than four times more likely to experience gun violence in their neighborhoods than White children. Gun violence is disproportionately prevalent in historically underfunded neighborhoods and cities; and

Whereas, the Boulder County Commissioners are committed to working to end gun violence with evidence-based solutions, such as Boulder County’s 2022 Gun Violence Prevention Ordinances; and

Whereas, local action is important, but to effectively stop gun violence in our communities, state and federal action is essential; and

Whereas, the Boulder County Commissioners supported and testified at the Colorado General Assembly in support of this year’s state legislation to raise the minimum age for purchasing a firearm, introduce waiting periods for the purchase of firearms, and extend so called ‘red flag’ laws in order to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people or people considering suicide; and

Whereas, the Boulder County Commissioners supported and testified at the Colorado General Assembly in support of legislation in 2022 to allow local governments to restrict firearms from sensitive public places; and

Whereas, ten states, plus the District of Columbia, have enacted laws that generally ban the sale, manufacture, and transfer of assault weapons, but unfortunately, Colorado is not one of them; and

Whereas, assault weapons are exceptionally deadly firearms that are commonplace in mass shootings, as evidenced by the fact that between 2015 and 2022, mass shootings with four or more people killed where an assault weapon was used accounted for a third of all mass shooting deaths nationally and more than 80 percent of all injuries; and

Whereas, banning assault weapons in Colorado will prevent and reduce mass shooting injuries and deaths and this essential action to protect our residents is long overdue; and

Whereas, the Boulder County Commissioners call on the Colorado General Assembly and Governor Jared Polis to enact an assault weapons ban in Colorado to protect our communities and address the public health crisis directly caused by gun violence.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners recognizes June 2023 as Boulder County Gun Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and invites residents to help raise awareness about gun violence, support gun violence prevention measures by writing to elected officials, and honor the lives of victims and survivors of gun violence by wearing orange on National Gun Violence Awareness Day (June 2).

Adopted this 30^th day of May 2023

• Contact the Board of County Commissioners

• View Commissioners' Meeting Documents and Records

• Visit the County Commissioners' webpage