Gun Violence Prevention Proclamation: Denver Public Schools

Dear Denver Public Schools Community,

Last night, at the Board of Education meeting, we heard from the Students Demand Action club from East High School. First, I’d like to thank the students from East High School’s Student Demand Action club for coming to the School Board meeting last night to advocate for more action from the Denver School Board regarding how to curb gun violence. Their passion and determination to make our schools safer is truly inspiring, and I am grateful for their efforts.

They called on the Board of Education to improve communication with families when incidents occur on campus, expand the BE Smart program from Moms Demand Action, and call on state and federal elected officials to enact an assault weapons ban in the 2023 legislative session. After listening to the powerful testimonies from the East High School Student Demand Action Club, I am proud to announce I have authored a proclamation for the Board of Education to take on the issue of gun violence in our schools and communities to be passed at our next Board of Education meeting on Thursday, December 15th, to address these issues and commit to the community that the Board of Education will work to implement the requests from our students.

As a father and former educator, I know firsthand the fear and anxiety that gun violence brings to our students, educators, and families. It is unacceptable that we send our children to school every day, wondering if they will come home safely. We must take action to prevent these tragedies from happening.

Improving communication with families is a top priority for me, as I have a sibling who attends East High School and was at school the day of the swatting incident. I understand that when incidents occur on campus, it is important for families to be kept informed and updated. I am committed to improving our communication processes and making sure that families are notified in a timely and effective manner.

In addition, this proclamation commits that the Board of Education will also look into expanding the BE Smart program from Moms Demand Action. This program promotes gun safety and education. In my first 50 days in office, I authored a resolution in partnership with Moms Demand Action to implement these gun safety standards within our schools. And I believe it is an important resource for our community. This proclamation commits the Board of Education will work with Moms Demand Action and other community organizations to explore ways to expand the program and make it more widely available to families in Denver.

This proclamation calls on the Colorado legislature to enact an assault weapons ban in the 2023 legislative session. As educators, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students. An assault weapons ban is an important step toward ensuring that our schools are safe and secure for all students. These weapons have no place in our schools or communities. They are designed for one purpose: to kill as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. We must do everything we can to keep these weapons out of the hands of those who would use them to harm innocent people. This is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of public safety. We must put the lives of our children and loved ones first and take action to prevent more senseless gun violence.

Finally, this proclamation calls on the Board of Education to work in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to develop and implement strategies to prevent and address gun violence in our schools and communities and share information and intelligence with law enforcement to help identify potential threats and prevent acts of gun violence.

Once again, I want to thank the students from East High School’s Student Demand Action club for coming to the School Board meeting last night and for standing up for what they believe in. Their voices are crucial in shaping the future of our schools, and I am grateful for your involvement.

I know that these issues are important to our community, and I am committed to taking action to address them. I look forward to working with our students, families, and community partners to make Denver schools a safe and supportive environment for all. Together, we can make a difference and create a safer future for all of our students and communities. Let’s take on this challenge and work together to end gun violence.

Sincerely,

Auon’tai Anderson

Denver School Board Vice President

Read the full proposed proclamation below:

PROCLAMATION FROM THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

WHEREAS, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and families; and

WHEREAS, we have seen an increase in gun violence within our communities, which poses a threat to the safety of our schools; and

WHEREAS, assault weapons are designed for military use and have no place in our communities;

WHEREAS gun violence has a devastating impact on our communities, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to prevent it; and

WHEREAS, the BE Smart program, in partnership with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, has been successful in promoting gun safety and reducing gun violence in our schools and communities; and

WHEREAS, effective communication with families is essential to ensuring the success of the BE Smart program and addressing the issue of gun violence;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED; that the Denver Public Schools Board of Education hereby commits to:

1. Improving the Board of Education’s communication with families about the BE Smart program and other preemptive measures to reduce gun violence in our schools and communities.
2. Strengthening the Board of Education’s partnership with Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, and other community organizations to work closely with them to expand the reach and impact of the BE Smart program and other preemptive measures.
3. Improve the Board of Education’s collaboration with law enforcement agencies to develop and implement strategies to prevent and address gun violence in our schools and communities.
4. Sharing information and intelligence with law enforcement to help identify potential threats and prevent acts of gun violence.
5. Re-evaluating our current policies to align with this proclamation to support and hold the Superintendent accountable for this work.

BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED; We call on the state legislature to enact an assault weapons ban in the 2023 legislative session in order to help prevent gun violence and protect our communities.

We believe that by working together and taking action, we can make a real difference in curbing gun violence and creating safer schools and communities for all of our students.