Celebrating 11 Years of Faith-Fueled ACTION to End Gun Violence!
March 2026 Digest
Members of Longmont United Church of Christ march in the Veteran's Day parade on November 11, 2025. Following the parade they sponsored a gun safe giveaway.
In this edition of the Digest:
Welcome to Longmont United Church of Christ ! Our 58th Member Congregation!
Donna's Law Gets the Funding It Needs
Join us for CFCU Strategic Planning on March 22
Photos from Lobby Day
2026 Legislative Update
Soul Box Project Honors Victims of King Sooper Shooting
Learn about ERPO for Health Care Workers at the PHS Meeting
Central Region Member Congregations Meet with Rep. Camacho
Guns to Gardens Event- Sunday, March 15
January Financial Report
CFCU February Calendar
CFCU Welcomes
Longmont United Church of Christ!
We are pleased to have UCC Longmontas our newest member of CFCU. They joined our organization just last month. As youwill see, they are a vibrant and active faith community.
Longmont UCC's Senior Pastor is the Rev. Amelia Richardson Dress, (photo right) and their AssociatePastor is the Rev. Whitney Jensen-Pankratz. The current membership of UCCLongmont is about 170.
They have been in existence for many years now, having beenestablished in 1872 as First Congregational of Longmont. 1n 1952, the United Church of Christ was born when several denominations came together under once governance structure in order to expand their witness to the world. From there on, First Congregational became First Congregational, UCC, Longmont.
(Right) Pastor Amelia Dress shows someone how to use a gun safe at the Safe Giveaway on November 11.
Senior Pastor of Longmont UCC is Rev. Amelia Richardson Dress.
The gun safe giveaway on November 11, attracted a huge crowd. 400 safes were given away, at a cost of $20,000
Longmont UCC has been involved in the gun violence issue for some time. They have a “Gun Violence Reduction Team” at their congregation that has existed for a few years now.One of the team’s activities is to hold an annual “gun safe give-away” in the Longmontcommunity. They give away gun safes for the home and the car. In fact, they held two events last year. It has been funded from some grants they received, They also have additional active ministries including a community gardens program, anenvironmental justice team, and others. They have a strong youth program, both for theyounger and older youth. Again, a big welcome to UCC Longmont -- our 58th CFCU Member Congregation!
Article submitted by Daryl Foelske, Lakewood United Church of Christ
Never Give Up:
Donna’s Law Supporters Hit $215,000 Needed for Implementation
Last session, Senator Cathy Kipp, Representative Andrew Boesenecker and Rep. Jamie Jackson co-sponsored The Voluntary Do-Not-Sell Firearm Waiver, known as Donna’s Law for Colorado. This bill, SB25-034 (Home SB25 034), is a suicide and firearm injury prevention tool which would allow individuals to sign up voluntarily and confidentially, through a secure online portal, to prevent firearm purchases before a time of crisis. Given the potential of this innovative approach to prevent suicides and firearm harm, CFCU’s Advocacy Action Team worked hard for passage by participating on the stakeholder group developing the bill and urging legislative support. These efforts succeeded, but due to the State’s fiscal crisis, the $215,000 needed for implementation was stripped from the bill.
But advocates were not to be thwarted. Sen. Kipp launched a fundraising campaign to secure the needed funds, supported by a broad range of organizations including CFCU. She and Ginny Mack, a psychiatric nurse with the Fort Collins’ Interfaith Gun Violence Prevention issue team, briefed CFCU’s Public Health Strategies Action Team about the bill and their fundraising strategy at a July 2025 meeting, and CFCU published an appeal for funding in its Digest.
Well, they succeeded! We just learned that the $215,00 was raised with rollout expected sometime this year. Thanks to all who helped make Donna’s Law a reality through their advocacy and donations. Like ERPO, this innovative tool will require extensive public education to realize its life saving potential, and CFCU plans to be involved again. Learn more athttps://donnaslawforco.wixsite.com/sb25-034
Article submitted by Alana Smart, Congregation B'nai Havurah
Attend CFCU Strategic Planning Meeting:
Help Us Chart the Future
Please join the CFCU Steering Committee on Sunday, March 22, 3-5pm at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Denver for the next phase of our strategic planning efforts.
Over the course of 2025 we held four in-person regional meetings, gathering valuable insights into what’s currently happening in our Member Congregations as well as ideas and inspiration for deepening the impact of our faith-fueled network.
On March 22 we will reflect on the findings from our regional meetings as we discuss the current context of our work at both the state and federal level and begin to identify goals for CFCU, organizationally. We value the diverse perspectives of our committed community of gun violence prevention activists and welcome your participation in shaping the future of our work together.
We hope you will consider contributing your time, energy and passion by joining the Steering Committee on March 22. Please email Cheryl Fleetwood atmembership@cfcu-co.org if you would like to attend so we can send you a few documents to review prior to the session on the 22nd.
Article submitted by Cheryl Fleetwood, Central Presbyterian Church
SB26-004: Expand List of Petitioners for Protection Orders
Status: Passed Senate 3rd reading, Feb. 3, 20-13. On to hearing by House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee, March 2 at 1:30 PM.
SB26-011: Search Warrants Provided to Covered Platforms
Status: Passed Senate 3rd reading, Feb. 18, 31-2. On to hearing by House Judiciary Committee on March 10, Upon Adjournment.
SB26-043: Record Keeping & Regulation of Sale of Firearm Barrels
Status: Passed Senate State Veterans & Military Affairs Committee hearing, Feb. 12, 3-2 along party lines. Passed Senate 2nd reading, Feb. 27. On to Senate 3rd reading.
The Soul Box Project of First Congregational Church, Boulder
March 1–29, 2026 | Tuesdays - Fridays at 9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m.
The 5th Year of Remembrance of the King Soopers Tragedy in Table Mesa is March 22, 2026. Through a collaboration of First Congregational's Gun Violence Prevention Ministry, the McMane Arts Ministry and many others, the Soul Box Project will be on display in the Sanctuary of First Congregational church, Boulder during the month of March. On March 22nd in worship, we will also remember our ten Boulder neighbors who died that day and all of those impacted by gun violence. For more information contact Carol Young, ccyoung2010@gmail.com
Article submitted by Carol Young, First Congregational Church of Boulder
Public education is critical to realizing the lifesaving potential of Extreme Risk Protection Orders so that they're used appropriately and effectively. CFCU’s Public Health Strategies (PHS) Action Team has focused on public education since passage of the original bill which has been expanded to include educators at all school levels and health/behavioral health professionals as petitioners.
Public Health Strategies Action Team
March 25
10 - 11:30 am on Zoom
We’ve already learned about the ERPO training curriculum for educators from the Attorney General's office last year. The March 25th PHS meeting (10:00 am -11:30 via ZOOM) will feature a presentation by the state epidemiologist, Reina Doyle, on the new ERPO training curriculum for health and behavioral health professionals developed by the Colorado Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Let’s learn about this important training module in order to inform health/behavioral health professionals in our congregations and social network about this new resource. To receive the meeting agenda and ZOOM link or previous information about the ERPO curriculum for educators, contact publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org
CFCU Central Region Member Congregations
Meet with Rep. Sean Camacho
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, representatives of some CFCU Central Region member congregations met with Rep. Sean Camacho, who represents House District 6. Cheryl Fleetwood (Central Pres), Melody Connett (Our Savior's Lutheran) and Kurt Kaufmann and Roz Heise (First Baptist) were present.
The meeting was a result of planning that began at the Central Regional Meeting last April. The goal was to raise awareness about the issue of gun violence and the work of CFCU among Colorado congressional members.
"We discovered Rep. Camacho was NOT familiar with CFCU and was therefore very happy to learn about our faith-based gun violence prevention work. Our CFCU members shared The 2025 Profile of Gun Violence and CFCU bookmarks and stickers with Rep. Camacho," explained Cheryl Fleetwood, head of Outreach and Engagement, and organizer of the event.
Rep. Camacho said that he has heard from another member of the House that "More people would safely dispose of guns if they were not afraid of the liability.” Of course, CFCU members told him about the work of RAWTools and Guns to Gardens, which provide confidential safe disposal of firearms.
"Overall, I felt the meeting was very successful," said Cheryl. "Rep. Camacho was very friendly and easy to talk with!"
Article submitted by Cheryl Fleetwood, Central Presbyterian Church
Please download and print this flyer! Post it in your favorite coffee shop, library or rec center! Help us get the word out and save lives.
Thursday, March 12, 12 noon. Advocacy Team meeting on Zoom. For more information, please contact Stephanie at advocacy@cfcu-co.org
Sunday, March 15: 10 AM - 12 PM: Guns to Gardens Safe Disposal Event.450 South Kearney Street
Tuesday, March 17: 1 - 3 PM: Steering Committee Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
Thursday, March 19: 9- 10 AM: Communications Meeting on Zoom. For more information, please contact Daryl Foelske to confirm. (dfoelske@gmail.com)
Sunday, March 22: 3 - 5 PM.CFCU Strategic Planning Meeting in person at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Park Hill. for more information please contact Cheryl Fleetwood (membership@cfcu-co.org)
Wednesday, March 25: 10:00 - 11:30 AM:Public Health Strategies Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
