Rising Together From a Summer of Heartache
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Dear Fellow Coloradan,
Summertime in Colorado is usually a time to enjoy the sun and take advantage of the postcard scenery throughout our state's outdoors.
Sadly, this summer has been a tough one for us to endure. We continue to grapple with drought conditions all over the state that pose serious risks to our farmers and other water users. And over the past couple of months, tens of thousands of Coloradans were forced to evacuate from their homes as wildfires burned large swaths of public and private land throughout the state. Despite the challenges, I saw firsthand communities across the state come together to help each other, and I could not have been prouder of my neighbors and fellow Coloradans.
However, just as we began to recover from the destructive wildfires, devastation struck us once again in the early hours of Friday morning, July 20. What should have been just a routine midnight movie premiere instantly turned into a real-life horror.
The actions exhibited by brave Coloradans trapped in the theater - as well as the first responders who made sure the wounded got to nearby hospitals and received the attention they needed - continue to be a testament to our ability to rise and help our fellow men and women when they need us most.
Last week, I partnered with Senator Michael Bennet to introduce a resolution that condemns these attacks. More importantly, it honors the victims affected by this tragedy and commends the medical and police personnel who worked together to protect the victims from further harm. Our House colleague, Rep. Ed Perlmutter, introduced an identical resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution unanimously passed in the House and the Senate.
This summer, Colorado has seen more than its fair share of grief. If there is anything we can take away from this terrible ordeal, I encourage us all to learn from those who selflessly gave of themselves to protect others during the Aurora shooting and to draw strength from the experience to be better people to our loved ones and our community.
Though this heinous crime may have shaken us, it did not - and will not - break us.
Warm regards,
