Columbine High School Triumph Over Tragedy

HOUSE SPONSORSHIP

Kerr J., Summers, Acree, Apuan, Balmer, Baumgardner, Benefield, Bradford, Casso, Ferrandino, Frangas, Gagliardi, Gardner B., Gardner C., Gerou, Green, Kagan, Kefalas, Kerr A., King S., Lambert, Liston, Looper, Marostica, Massey, May, McCann, McFadyen, McNulty, Merrifield, Middleton, Miklosi, Nikkel, Pace, Peniston, Primavera, Priola, Roberts, Scanlan, Schafer S., Solano, Sonnenberg, Soper, Stephens, Todd, Vaad, Vigil, Waller, Weissmann

SENATE SPONSORSHIP

Kopp, Boyd, Brophy, Carroll M., Gibbs, Heath, Kester, King K., Lundberg, Morse, Penry, Renfroe, Romer, Scheffel, Schultheis, Spence, White

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 09-1019

CONCERNING COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY 1999-2009.

WHEREAS, April 20, 1999, was a day that forever changed not only Colorado but an entire nation; a day on which the Columbine High School community, the state of Colorado, and the nation as a whole suffered the tragic loss of innocence; and

WHEREAS, April 20, 1999, became a "new beginning" for countless families and others who recognized this tragedy as a benchmark for change; and

WHEREAS, In the ten years since the tragedy at Columbine High School, efforts have been made throughout Colorado and the nation to understand how this tragedy happened and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring; and

WHEREAS, Parents of the innocent victims killed at Columbine High School determined that the old library had to be eradicated, formed an organization called HOPE (Healing of People Everywhere) and, with the help of the community and the entire nation, raised donations of $3.1 million in money and resources; the old library was razed and a new library erected to show that the Columbine community would not let the past tarnish the future; they created a positive change and established hope for a new beginning; and

WHEREAS, The Columbine Memorial was dedicated on September 21, 2007, at Clement Park which contains a Ring of Remembrance and a Ring of Healing, creating a respectful place for everyone to reflect, remember, and ensure the innocent victims who died, were injured, or endured the tragedy are not forgotten; and

WHEREAS, The Columbine license plate, "Respect Life", was created to remember and value the life of innocent victims and survivors of the Columbine tragedy; and

WHEREAS, After the tragedy at Columbine High School, dozens of charitable funds were established to help people triumph over this tragedy; many provided scholarships in honor of the memory of innocent lives lost, while others provided support services to help people in the Columbine community deal with the aftermath of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, Many of the students who were affected by the tragedy at Columbine High School altered their life paths and have pursued degrees in fields that allow them to work with the mentally ill or in other professional sectors in which they can help individuals and communities ease suffering and live without violence; and

WHEREAS, Books have been written to pay tribute to the innocent victims killed at Columbine High School; and family members as well as the injured victims themselves have traveled around the world as spokespersons to help others cope with tragedy; and

WHEREAS, Law enforcement agencies now provide immediate deployment training, educate first responders, have improved interagency radio communications, and have developed protocols to engage and neutralize any active threat; and

WHEREAS, Legislation was enacted to create an environment free of bullying as part of all school districts' safe school plans; and

WHEREAS, While the deaths that occurred at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, were a great tragedy, the community, the state of Colorado, and the nation have triumphed over that tragedy by maintaining thoughtful remembrance of the innocent victims, applying the lessons learned by school and law enforcement officials, and continuing to strive for violence-free communities; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

(1) That we, the members of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly of the state of Colorado, remember and honor those innocent victims who were killed, injured, or affected by the Columbine High School tragedy;

(2) That we thank those individuals and organizations who have helped honor the innocent victims of the Columbine High School tragedy through charitable contributions that provide scholarships and other community resources, including the reconstruction of the Columbine High School library and the construction and maintenance of the Columbine Memorial;

(3) That we recognize and commend the individual and group efforts of the Columbine High School community in turning this tragedy into a triumph;

(4) That we encourage all Coloradans to remember the Columbine High School community on April 20, 2009; and

(5) That April 20 be known statewide as a "Day of Recommitment", a day to remember all innocent victims of school shootings and a day to encourage all Coloradans to recommit themselves and their families to being better people, better parents, and better community members.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the families of the thirteen innocent victims killed and the twenty-five innocent students and staff members injured at Columbine High School as follows: Kyle Velasquez, Lauren Townsend, Isaiah Shoels, Dave Sanders, Daniel Mauser, Kelly Fleming, Steven Curnow, John Tomlin, Rachel Scott, Daniel Rohrbough, Matthew Kechter, Corey DePooter, Cassie Bernall, Val Schnurr, Lisa Kreutz, Jeanna Park, Lance Kirklin, Anne Marie Hochhalter, Dan Steepleton, Patrick Ireland, Richard Castaldo, Sean Graves, Brian Anderson, Kacey Ruegsegger, Nicole Nowlen, Mark Taylor, Mark Kintgen, Jennifer Doyle, Stephanie Munson, Adam Kyler, Michael Johnson, Nick Foss, Patti Nielson, Joyce Jankowski, Makai Hall, Evan Todd, Charles Simmons, and Austin Eubanks.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution also be sent to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department; the Jefferson County School District Communications Services Office; Frank DeAngelis, principal, and the faculty of Columbine High School; and the members of the Sixty-second General Assembly.