By Bell Piccirillo and Sophia Gyuk
In the last decade, Colo. has seen 60 mass shootings resulting in 88 deaths and 239 injuries. Unsurprisingly, students are one of the most vocal groups expressing concern at these statistics. Since the fatal Feb. 2023 shooting at Michigan State University, college students in Colo. have been worried they could be next.
Judith Amabile, the Democratic representative for Colo.’s 49th District, is campaigning for a Senate seat in District 18. Her focus on mental health, gun safety and criminal justice reform aims to tackle these urgent issues.
Amabile emphasizes the need for comprehensive gun safety reforms, referencing high-profile cases that illustrate systemic gaps. One such case is the Michael Close incident in Colo., where a man regained access to firearms after being deemed incompetent and subsequently used those guns in a shooting.
“If you used a gun in the commission of your crime, and you’re now having the charges dropped because of competency issues, somebody is required to try to get a red flag on you,” Amabile said citing House Bill 21-1298, signed into Colo. law June 2021.
In Boulder, one of the events that has defined the last few years in terms of gun violence and resident safety was the 2021 King Soopers shooting, which claimed 10 lives. Amabile sprang into action following the violent act.
“After the King Soopers shooting, I ran a bill that enhanced background checks. If you committed a violent misdemeanor in the last five years, you would be prohibited from buying a gun,” Amabile said, referencing House Bill 23-1219, a policy that hopes to prevent impulsive acts of violence through more extensive background checks.
While gun safety is a looming issue for the state as a whole, students especially are expecting to see real change.
Amabile’s approach may not offer immediate reassurance. While the house representative has championed broader gun safety measures, she admits that there are no current plans to introduce legislation specifically designed to protect students from gun violence. This revelation raises questions about how her policies will directly impact the safety of those on campus.
Mental health advocacy is another key focus of Amabile’s campaign, one which might indirectly lessen the risk of campus violence. Most gunmen, specifically those who target campuses, are experiencing a noticeable mental health crisis during or surrounding their attack, PBS states.
Amabile’s personal experiences have led her to become a passionate advocate for mental health reform. She cites the challenges her son has faced related to schizoaffective disorder and substance use as her reason for getting into politics.
“My son experienced homelessness at one point. He wanted to get a gun and kill himself. I could see that he tried to purchase a gun and went down to the gun shop,” Amabile said.
This experience motivated her to testify on the Red Flag Gun Law in 2019, which she views as a defining moment in her political journey. As promised in her 2024 campaign, Amabile hopes to implement measures that support mental health reform and promote responsible gun ownership.
However, when asked about her future policy work, the representative said, “I do not have a gun safety bill on tap for 2025 concerning student protection.”
Students are a key demographic in Boulder, with 31% of the City of Boulder’s total residential population enrolled in CU Boulder.
In terms of mental healthcare policy, Amabile seems to be more on track to grab the student vote. She is sponsoring a measure that will mandate insurance coverage parity for behavioral health care across the board.
“This is important because we are seeing insurance companies unfairly deny coverage for mental health conditions,” Amabile said.
Student access to mental healthcare often relies on insurance or other affordable options. Shannon Bird, a fellow Colorado Representative and Boulder resident, applauded Amabile’s efforts to ensure extended mental healthcare for vulnerable individuals.
“People with serious mental illness must get necessary care and not be discharged from care if they need treatment for more than 14 days,” Rep. Bird said on X in March 2024. “We are working to make this happen in Colorado. Gratitude to Judy Amabile for her relentless advocacy for this change.”
Amabile acknowledges the challenges of securing funding for mental health and gun safety initiatives in Boulder. When pressed on specific plans for district funding, she often references her past legislative successes without detailing new proposals. This vagueness may become a contentious point for voters seeking clear and actionable plans in District 18.
When discussing the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Amabile expressed her concerns about the office’s struggles to gain traction due to government funding constraints.
“Funding is going to be a huge problem,” she said. “Next year, we will be super budget constrained, so I’m not sure how much progress is going to get made on that, to be brutally honest.”
Despite these challenges, Amabile’s campaign has received endorsements from key figures in Colo. politics, including Gov. Jared Polis and Congressman Joe Neguse. The financial backing of the Colo. Democratic Party has also bolstered her efforts, with her campaign sponsoring about $200,000 in finances so far. Most of these contributions stem from the Colo. Democratic Party and the Judy Amabile campaign, with funds primarily directed toward digital outreach, advertising, and legislative action.
As Amabile continues her campaign for Senate District 18, she faces the dual challenge of addressing pressing community concerns while navigating the complexities of funding and legislation for the people of Boulder.