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YouthZone column: New partnership to help prevent gun violence

Ali Naaseh-Shahry
YouthZone
Ali Naaseh-Shahry
Courtesy

This year, YouthZone is proud to announce a new partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Thanks to a $76,000 grant award through the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, YouthZone will be able implement our Safe Pathways program, a community-based gun violence initiative focused on interrupting cycles of gun violence, trauma, and retaliation. The program will prevent firearm suicides; provide wraparound services for victims, offenders, and the community to facilitate successful re-entry after a firearm-related incident; and inform citizens of safe-storage obligations while respecting their Second Amendment rights.

Firearms have been the leading cause of death for children in the United States since 2020, so we know how important and sensitive this work can be. As a firearm owner myself, this issue is near and dear to my heart, as I know it is for many of you. Below, I’ll break down the most common type of youth firearm deaths in our state and outline specific ways that we can unite to prevent them in our communities.

In Colorado, 52% of youth firearm deaths are suicides, 40% are homicides, and 3% are due to unintentional discharge. The first and easiest way to prevent all three of these tragedies is to keep firearms out of the hands of children. Under State and Federal law, there are only a few circumstances in which it’s permissible for juveniles to possess a firearm: hunting and trapping; competitive target-shooting events; and in extremely limited cases, home self-defense. These cases all require parental permission, and you should always check with your local law enforcement agency to ensure you’re in compliance with specific rules and regulations prior to allowing your child to access a firearm. Providing a firearm to a juvenile is a serious offense, and can carry punishment of up to 6 years in prison and/or up to $500,000 in fines.

When firearms aren’t in use for the situations listed above, they must be securely stored. Locking mechanisms are a great way to prevent kids from getting ahold of firearms. The most common options are safes and trigger locks. Licensed retailers are required to provide some type of lock when you purchase a firearm from them, and there are many models of high-tech locks that use fingerprints, hang-gestures, and other biometrics. Out of home storage is also an option – check with your local dealer, shooting range, or police department to see if they offer this service. Unlawful storage of a firearm is punishable by up to 120 days in jail and/or a $750 fine.  



While limiting unsupervised and unlawful access to firearms can prevent many tragedies, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. The hard work begins when we start tackling upstream causes of youth violence such as mental, behavioral and social health issues. The great news is that YouthZone is here to help. Our process starts when our dedicated, hard-working, and highly qualified youth advocates conduct a comprehensive, two-generational youth and family assessment. The results of the assessment dictate which services our advocates deliver to the client. They include court advocacy, substance use education, restorative justice, life skills, mentoring, counseling, and peer support groups. To provide wraparound support to the whole family, we also offer services for adults via our Parent Support Program.

All these services help reduce common crimes that are related to community, domestic, or intimate partner violence, regardless of whether a firearm is involved or not. Even though school shootings make up less than 1% of youth firearm deaths, we also partner closely with local schools to create supportive environments where kids feel welcome regardless of their identities. Last year, we conducted a restorative community process that allowed staff and students at a local school to help navigate the aftermath of an incident in which a firearm was brought to school. We also offer in-school peer support groups for LGBTQ+ youth, who face increased risk of suicide and homicide in our communities.



YouthZone’s services represent a crucial step towards addressing the pervasive issue of gun violence among youth in Colorado. By focusing on prevention, education and comprehensive support services, our vision is to foster Hopeful Youth, Strong Families, and Safe Communities. This partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, backed by the generous grant from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, empowers us to make a meaningful impact. Together as a community, we can work toward a future where every child feels safe and supported, free from the threat of gun violence. If you’d like to learn more and support the work we do at YouthZone, please visit http://www.YouthZone.com/give.

YouthZone Deputy Development Director Ali Naaseh-Shahry is a Colorado native who holds degrees in international public policy from the University of Colorado (BA) and University College London (MSc). He moved to western Colorado in 2015 to teach six-and-under ski school at the Aspen Skiing Company. Ali has taught a wide variety of academic and experiential subjects to people of all ages. Most recently, he worked as a special education teacher with the Roaring Fork School District, where he used data-driven decision making to improve his delivery of specialized instruction. Ali enjoys lift-access powder skiing, raft-access fly fishing, and spending time with his cats.


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