July 2024 Digest

Celebrating our 10th Anniversary!

Save the date

for our 10th Anniversary Celebration:

Sunday afternoon, September 22!

Watch for more information coming soon.

In this edition of the Digest:

• Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence Prevention a Public Health Crisis
• Register for our HIP informational Session on July 2
• Gun Violence Prevention Advocate Vic Bencomo is Battling Cancer
• Legislative Update from the Advocacy Team
• July 20:  Honoring the Victims on the 12th Anniversary of the Aurora Theater Shooting
• Healthcare Claims for Firearms Injuries Increase in Colorado
• East High School Gun Violence Activists Speak at Holy Family  

• CFCU at the Boulder County Fair

• Community Firearm Safety Event in Lafayette
• Our CFCU Featured Congregation:  Central Presbyterian Church
• CFCU Calendar

Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence

a Public Health Crisis

On June 25, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for the first time issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence, declaring firearm violence in America to be a public health crisis. The advisory outlines the devastating and far-reaching consequences that firearm violence poses to the nation’s health and well-being. Like Surgeon General’s Advisories in the past, including tobacco use and drunk driving, this advisory extends the issue of gun violence beyond law enforcement and politics to the public health sphere. 

The Advisory contains a wealth of national data on the prevalence, demographics, and emotional impacts of gun violence on communities, families, and children, as well as public health approaches and recommended actions to reduce firearm deaths and injuries. Among the recommendations are:

• closing loopholes in background checks 
• requiring secure storage of firearms
• restricting assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
• improving data sources and expanding research
• improving safety standards for all firearms as with other consumer products
• expanding access to mental health support services and substance abuse treatment 
• greater investment in community risk reduction

To read the Advisory: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/firearm-violence/index.html

Article submitted by Stephanie Greenberg, Congregation Bonai Shalom.

Gun Violence Prevention Advocate Vic Bencomo is Battling Cancer

Legislative Update from the Advocacy Team (July 2024)

Gov. Polis signed all eight gun violence prevention bills that cleared the Legislature in the 2024 session. We’ve been told that it’s a record. Here is the information about each of the bills and the dates of when the new laws go into effect: 

 July 20 is 12th Anniversary of the Aurora Theater Mass Shooting 

The  Aurora Century 16 Movie Theater Shooting, in which 12 people were killed and 70 others were injured, most of them from gunfire took place on July 20, 2012.  In the two months prior to the tragedy, the shooter had legally purchased four firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, and a .40 caliber Glock handgun and had amassed over 6,000 rounds of ammunition.

CFCU congregation member St. Paul Catholic Community of Faith will participate in the 7/20 Day of Resilience Healing and Wellness Fair held at the Aurora Water Wise Reflection Garden at NW corner of Alameda & Chambers.

  Father Michael Nicosia will be offering blessings for anyone who would like them.  You can learn more about the 7/20 Day of Remembrance here.

Healthcare Claims for Firearm Injuries Increase in Colorado

Gracie and Clara Taub Lead Student Gun Activists at East High School

Some Summer GVP Events

Articles submitted by Stephanie Greenberg, Congregation Bonai Shalom

Visit the CFCU Table

at the

Boulder County Fair

Community Firearm Safety Event in Lafayette:

Free Firearm Safes

Our Featured Congregation of the Month:

Central Presbyterian Church

Dr. Libby Clarke and her family joined Central Presbyterian Church in May, 2022,  because of its strong emphasis on service and ministry.  Libby, a primary care geriatrics doctor for almost eleven years, works at Denver Health.  She is married to Josh and has a four year old son, Miles.

Central Presbyterian was founded in 1860, with a history of over 160 years in the heart of Denver.  Its strong focus on service begin the in the 19th century with English classes for Chinese immigrants working on the railroad and in the mines.  It continued through the founding of Presbyterian Hospital (now Presbyterian-St. Luke's), as one of the founding churches of Metro Caring.  Today Heartbeat Denver Working Men's Shelter, which houses over 100 working men a night and  Purple Door Coffee, which employs youth who are experiencing homelessness are both housed by Central Pres.

Libby is a member of Moms Demand Action and she has been getting CFCU emails since 2016.  Cheryl Fleetwood, a member of the Executive Committee of CFCU, was also engaged in gun violence prevention work and in 2022 Central Presbyterian officially became a member of CFCU.

When Libby joined Central Pres, she quickly became a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Ministry. working with Cheryl Fleetwood.  "We are passionate, and our church empowers lay leaders who have a passion to take the lead.  We have a group of between 10 and 15 regular attendees.  We have hosted talks on ERPO, supported Guns to Gardens and most recently hosted the Lobby Day for gun violence legislation.  

Pastor Louise Westfall has led Central Presbyterian since 2011.  She is the author of two Bible studies.   The Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m.  

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

Josh, Miles and Libby Clarke, Easter photo at Central Presbyterian Church

Calendar  for July and Beyond

• July 2:  4:30 - 5:30 p.m.  HIP information Program on Zoom.  Register here.
• July 16:  3:30 - 5:30 p.m.  Steering Committee Meeting on Zoom.  For more information please contact Alana Smart at   alanaks@aol.com
• July 17:  10 - 11:30 a.m.  Public Health Strategies Meeting on Zoom.  For more information, please contact Alana Smart at  alanaks@aol.com
• July 18:  10 a.m. - 12 p.m.  Communications Meeting on Zoom.  For more information please contact Daryl Foelske at dfoelske@gmail.com
• July 25:  11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Firearm Safety Event in Lafayette
• August 20:  2:00 PM  Advocacy Committee Meeting: on Zoom. For more information, please contact Stephanie at advocacy@cfcu-co.org
• September 22:  CFCU 10th Anniversary Celebration.   Watch for more information!

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