Students Demand Action Holds Gun Violence Prevention Summit with Colorado Lawmakers
10.22.2024
DENVER — Last night, multiple Students Demand Action chapters from high schools in Denver, Colorado held a gun violence prevention summit at Cherry Creek High School with Colorado lawmakers. At the summit, students and lawmakers discussed the state of the gun violence prevention movement and what comes next in the fight to end gun violence. This is the second annual legislative summit held by Students Demand Action chapters in Colorado.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work Students Demand Action chapters have made across the state to advance gun safety laws that keep our communities safe,” said Agnes Holena, co-founder and co-president of the Cherry Creek Students Demand Action chapter. “Gun violence is the leading cause of death for our generation in Colorado and America, so our work is far from done. That’s why we came together and had an open conversation with our lawmakers about how to continue building on the progress we’ve made so far and put our ideas into action.”
“Gen Z feels the weight and pressure of gun violence every day. The repeating news cycle of kids being shot makes a lot of us wonder, will we be next?” said Grant Cramer, a gun violence survivor and volunteer leader with Denver East Students Demand Action chapter. “No one should have to ask themselves that question, but we have to in our country because of easy access to firearms. We hope this summit will help guide legislative strategy for next year’s session, allow people to better understand how gun violence impacts our communities, and highlight the important work that still needs to be done so we can end gun violence.”
Listed below are the state lawmakers that participated in the summit:
- Rep. Jennifer Bacon, District 7
- Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, District 53
- Rep. Meg Froelich, District 3
- Rep. Eliza Hamrick, District 61
- Rep. Javier Mabrey, District 1
- Rep. Steven Woodrow, District 2
- Senator Chris Kolker, District 16
- Senator Tom Sullivan, District 27
The following Students Demand Action school chapters co-hosted the summit:
- Cherry Creek High School
- Denver East High School
- Denver South High School
- Denver School of the Arts
- George Washington High School
- Regis Jesuit High School
During the 2024 legislative session, Colorado lawmakers passed at least six gun safety bills, including one in the last hours of the session that passed a critical gun safety bill instituting a state gun dealer permitting system. You can read more about the progress Students Demand Action made to advance gun safety measures during the legislative session here.
In an average year, 951 people die and 1,392 are wounded by guns in Colorado. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Colorado, and an average of 84 children and teens die by guns every year, of which 48% are suicides and 47% are homicides. Gun violence in Colorado costs $2,039 per resident 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.