CFCU October Digest

CFCU Digest

October, 2023

In this issue of the digest:

White House Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Eileen McCarron to Speak at Lakewood United Church of Christ
CFCU Members Rally in Support of Communities Impacted by Gun Violence
Still Time to Sign Up as a HIP Volunteer and Help Save Young Lives
National Public Radio features CU’s Dr. Emmy Betz on Preventing Firearm Suicides
CFCU Calendar for October and beyond
Our Featured Congregation: First Unitarian Society of Denver

White House Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention

On September 22, President Biden announced the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which will focus on executive action and coordinating gun violence prevention efforts across the Federal government.

Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the new Office. Stefanie Feldman, a longtime policy advisor to President Biden on gun violence prevention, will serve as Director. Gun violence prevention advocates Greg Jackson and Rob Wilcox will join the Administration as Deputy Directors of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

Greg Jackson, a survivor of gun violence, has led the Community Justice Action Fund, a national, survivor-led gun violence prevention organization focused exclusively on the impact to black and brown communities.

Rob Wilcox most recently served as the Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety. He is a gun-violence survivor as the nephew of Colorado residents Amanda and Nick Wilcox, whose 19-year-old daughter Laura was murdered in 2001 in a mass shooting in California. In the aftermath of their tragedy, Rob, Amanda, and Nick became leading gun violence prevention advocates.

Many of us know Amanda through her work as a volunteer with the Brady Campaign in Colorado. Prior to moving to Colorado, Amanda and Nick resided in California where they had a leadership role in the passage of dozens of gun violence prevention laws in the California Legislature. Amanda became the legislative chair of Brady's California chapters. She is one of Brady's representatives at the Colorado Coalition Against Gun Violence and is a tireless advocate for gun violence prevention.

Article contributed by Stephanie Greenberg, Congregation Bonai Shalom

Eileen McCarron to Speak at Lakewood United Church of Christ

Eileen McCarron, President of Colorado Ceasefire Legislative Action, will speak at Lakewood United Church of Christ with the topic of “The 2023 Colorado Legislative Session and Gun Violence Prevention bills: What’s Next?”

Her presentation will take place on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at 11:30 am, and is sponsored by : Lakewood United Church of Christ and Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence. This event will be held at Lakewood UCC which is located at 100 Carr St., Lakewood, CO 80226."

The 2023 Colorado Legislative Session resulted in six gun violence prevention bills signed by Governor Jared Polis at the close of the session. Come listen to Ms. McCarron provide an overview of the laws and the challenges ahead for people of faith.

The presentation is sponsored by Colorado Ceasefire, and CFCU. Colorado Ceasefire is the longest serving statewide, grassroots gun violence prevention organization in the State of Colorado, and is made up of parents, teachers, students, community members, gun violence survivors and more who have been working for over twenty years to prevent and reduce gun violence in Colorado through education, outreach and legislative advocacy.

Lakewood UCC is a member church of Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence (CFCU)

Article contributed by Daryl Foelske, Lakewood United Church of Christ.

CFCU Members Rally in Support of Communities Impacted by Gun Violence

Members from at least 15 CFCU congregations rallied on the steps of the Denver City and County Building in support of the Metro Area Vigil Against Gun Violence held on August 29. This event was convened by leaders of communities impacted by gun violence such as Rev. Dr. Jose Silva, former Co-Chair of the Denver Latino Commission and Rev. Pastor Vernon Jones, Congregation in the City Beth Abraham. Dr. Silva lost his nephew to gun violence on August 5.

The event began with a healing ceremony performed by Grupo Tlaloc Danza Azteca, followed by opening remarks from the organizers and Brother Jeff Fard. DA Beth McCann, State Rep Jennifer Bacon, State Senator James Coleman and Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore were some of the officials who spoke. Several family members shared the ongoing pain and anger of losing loved ones. Representatives from organizations like the NAACP and the Struggle of Love Foundation also spoke.

CFCU’s Pastor Gordon Kieft of Calvary Baptist helped close the gathering by offering CFCU’s support and resources. The group is now holding planning meetings focused on solutions that will address gun violence using a public health approach. CFCU members are participating and will provide future updates on how we can support these efforts.

We recognize there wasn’t much notice to mobilize for this vigil, so we understand that many of our congregations weren't able to participate. But thanks to those of you who were able to send representatives and those who were with us in spirit.

B’nai Havurah
Calvary Baptist
Central Presbyterian
Congregation Bonai Shalom, Boulder
Congregation Har HaShem, Boulder
First Baptist
First Plymouth
First Unitarian Society of Denver
Messiah Community Church
Montview Presbyterian
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church
St. John's Episcopal, Boulder
St. Paul Catholic Community of Faith (ECC)
St. Thomas Episcopal
Temple Micah

Article contributed by Alana Smart, B’nai

Still Time to Sign-up as a HIP Volunteer and Help Save Young Lives

HIP, the Handgun Intervention Program that CFCU volunteers have been assisting since its founding will officially kick-off its eighth cohort on Monday, Oct. 9 from 5:00 -7:00 at First Mennonite Church in Denver, a CFCU member.

The volunteer commitment includes participating in 5 education/training sessions with youth convicted of first time, non-violent firearm offenses from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Oct. 9, 16, 30, Nov. 16, and 13. Along with members of the youth’s family, volunteers serve with a team of community members to help the youth develop a plan of action leading to a safer, gun free life. For questions and to get connected to this program, contact alanaks@aol.com.

Article contributed by Alana Smart, B’nai Havurah

National Public Radio Features CU’s Dr. Emmy Betz on Preventing Firearm Suicides

Dr. Emmy Betz, ER Physician and Director of the CU Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative at Anschutz was recently featured in the NPR story linked below. Dr. Betz has presented on preventing firearm suicides at several CFCU general meetings. She recently met with members of CFCU’s ERPO Public Education work group to discuss appropriate utilization of ERPO as a suicide prevention tool. Given that 70% of firearm deaths in Colorado are suicides, we strongly recommend listening to this clip and sharing it with others in your congregation:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-can-be-done-to-prevent-gun-suicides-as-u-s-rate-hits-all-time-high

Article contributed by Alana Smart, B’nai Havurah

Watch for more information about CFCU’s Upcoming General Meeting!

CFCU October Calendar

October 9: 5 p.m. Handgun Intervention Program begins Cohort 7. Contact Alana Smart (alanaks@aol.com) for more information and to volunteer.
October 10: 1:30 p.m. Advocacy Meeting on Zoom. Contact Stephanie Greenberg research@swgreenberg.com for more information
October 14: Guns to Gardens 12:00-2:00 pm, Lafayette, Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (see flyer below)
October 17: 3:30 - 5:00 CFCU Steering Committee
October 19: 1 p.m. Communications Committee. Please contact Daryl Foelske (dfoelske@gmail.com) for more information and the zoom link.
October 22: 11:30 a.m. Eileen McCarron Presentation at Lakewood United Church of Christ. (See article above.)
December 6: Vigil to Honor Victims of Sandy Hook and all Who Have Been Harmed by Gun Violence
December 9: 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. Guns to Gardens Event in Denver, location to be announced.

Our Featured Congregation: First Unitarian Society of Denver

Our featured congregation of the month is First Unitarian Society of Denver, on Lafayette Street, close to the Capitol building. The welcome descriptor on its website describes the community as one that is “leading some of the largest social justice efforts of the last few generations.” They are “a welcoming community full of warm-hearted members.” Their pastor is Reverend Mike Morran.

Julie Meyer is the contact for the Gun Violence Prevention Ministry, and was the founder over a decade ago.

“Legislative stuff is our focus.” says Julie Meyers, a ten year member of First Unitarian and representative for the congregation to CFCU. She served as co-chair of CFCU Advocacy Team since its inception until recently, and helped start the Rapid Response Network. “There are about 140 members on our FUSD rapid response network and 10 - 20 people are regular responders. At First Unitarian, we put up signs and do tabling in regard to gun violence issues. We are active at coffee hour and publish information about gun violence prevention in our church publications.” Julie, a retired pediatrician, testifies at the capitol, on behalf of CFCU and/or the American Academy of Pediatrics, when there is a gun law up for a vote. She also mentors people. “I am happy to walk people through the process if they want to testify.”

“I am in my 9th year of this work to end gun violence. It is a little head banging. We make progress, we slide back. We make progress…but there are still guns.” And yet Julie passionately persists in her efforts.

Julie is also deeply involved with racial issues and is a member of her congregation’s Reparations Study Group. “There is a huge overlap between issues of gun violence and racial justice. Often the impacted community is people of color. It is important for white organizations to want to make strides and build bridges with affected communities.” Julie and First Unitarian are working to find ways to build those bridges that can help to end gun violence and heal the wounds that are caused by it.

Article contributed by Rita Niblack, Most Precious Blood Catholic Church.