Reclaiming April 20th: Transforming Pain into Progress for Colorado

The Challenger Space Shuttle.

9-11.

Columbine High School. 

Each event is one so significant that if you were alive when they happened, you clearly remember where you were when you heard about them.

If you’re from Colorado, the last one hits especially close.

For the last 25 years, April 20th has been a day of collective trauma for Coloradans. The word Columbine is less known as the state flower and more synonymous with one of the first mass school shootings in US history. 

Since that infamous day, Colorado has endured more than our share of high-profile incidents just as traumatizing as Columbine. But it’s not just the headline making events that impact us.

Beyond these headline-grabbing crises, there lies an even more widespread issue: the ongoing firearm-related harm that is much more common in our communities and our own homes.

Yet, Columbine is only one of many traumatic events that have scarred our state. Beyond these headline-grabbing crises, there lies an even more widespread issue: the ongoing firearm-related harm that is much more common in our communities and our own homes. Ranking as the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in Colorado, firearms claim more lives than motor vehicle accidents and are the primary factor in deaths related to suicide, community, and domestic violence, as well as targeted and mass shootings. It's evident that gun violence is not just a news story; it's a major public health emergency.

It’s plain to see, the harm related to firearms is more than just a news story; it's become a major public health emergency.

Following drug poisoning and falls, in Colorado, firearms are the third most common cause of death due to injury – more common than all motor-vehicle related deaths. Firearms are also the leading cause of death associated with suicide, community violence, domestic violence, and targeted and mass shootings. It’s plain to see, the harm related to firearms, that every Colorado community suffers, is not just a news story; it's become a major public health emergency.

When it comes to the firearm-related harm and violence epidemic in Colorado, it's time we acknowledge that we can no longer work in silos.

Over the last quarter century, a lot of efforts have been made to prevent, reduce, intervene and even legislate away the firearm-related harm and violence Coloradans experience. Almost everyone has stepped up. From young activists inspiring change to dedicated parents fighting for safer schools to selfless educators to compassionate healthcare professionals treating wounds, both physical and mental, to passionate legislators aiming to craft policies that protect. And while all of this is commendable, very little of it has been coordinated.

When it comes to the firearm-related harm and violence epidemic in Colorado, it's time we acknowledge that we can no longer work in silos. The issue is bigger and more complex than any one individual, organization or agency can solve alone and one that demands a multifaceted, collaborative approach. Law enforcement can’t and shouldn’t be the only option. The same goes for mental or medical health professionals, or educators, youth, parents, communities, or legislators.

To properly address firearm-related harm and violence like any public health crisis, we must work together to identify and redress the root causes of the problem.

Initiatives like Denver’s Youth Violence Prevention Action Table and Park Hill Strong have proven effective and offer a blueprint for others to follow.

Throughout my three decades in gun and youth violence prevention, I've witnessed the transformative impact of a public health approach. Colorado is one of the few states that has an Office of Gun Violence Prevention housed in the Department of Public Health and Environment and created and created a state level Office of School Safety. We are fortunate enough to be the home of the University of Colorado's Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative (FIPI), nationally recognized gun violence prevention research experts. Initiatives like The City of Denver’s Youth Violence Prevention Action Table has worked to bring city leadership and resources together strategically through a comprehensive plan to support the youth most at-risk of being involved or impacted by violence including suicide.

Moreover, the University of Colorado's Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) houses one of the few National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (YVPCs).

Denver Metro Community Impact (DMCI) — a non-profit which serves as the backbone organization supporting two community boards focused on youth violence prevention in northeast Denver —has demonstrated how aligning resources and strategies across various sectors can reduce firearm-related injuries. By identifying the risk factors of violence and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies, these groups have not only alleviated immediate suffering but have also begun to foster long-term community resilience. Such comprehensive strategies have proven effective in helping reduce and prevent the harm caused by firearm-related incidents and offering a blueprint for others to follow.

As the newly appointed Director of the Firearm-Related Harm and Violence Prevention (FHVP) Program at Trailhead Institute, I'm determined to continue to coordinate all of this incredible work and tackle this public health crisis head-on. The FHVP Program will focus on learning from communities about what’s working and what’s needed to address the types of firearm-related harm they experience. The office will make and hold space at the decision making tables for young people, parents, educators, faith leaders, firearm owners, researchers, local political leaders and many others across the state who want to be part of the solution to ensure their unique perspectives are included in this public health approach to firearm-related harm prevention. The office will use this input to work with communities build ecosystems in that provide access to and leverage the wealth of public and private resources.

April 20th isn't just a day to look back in sorrow but a clarion call to shape the future.

As we commemorate Columbine, let's turn our sorrow into proactive steps towards collective action. April 20th isn't just a day to look back in sorrow but a clarion call to shape the future. It’s essential that all of us, in all our individual communities — law enforcement, mental health experts, educators, parents, and lawmakers—work together so the next 25 years will be safer, healthier, happier, more hopeful — better.