Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

DENVER  -  Governor Bill Owens announced today that he is asking every student in Colorado schools to sign a pledge that says the following:

I pledge:

• I will never bring a gun to school;
• I will never use a gun to settle a dispute;
• I will use my influence with my friends to keep them from using guns to settle disputes.
• My individual choices and actions, when multiplied by those of young people throughout Colorado and the country, will make a difference. Together, by honoring this pledge, we can reverse the violence and grow up safely.

"As one step in many of the process for Colorado to heal from the tragic events at Columbine High School this week," Gov. Owens said, "students, parents and teachers must know that Colorado children are committed to gun free schools."

"Teachers across the state face roomfuls of scared, confused students," Gov. Owens continued, "Our teachers are faced with answering the tough questions and helping students make sense of this senseless violence. This pledge will not only serve as a vehicle for teachers to talk with their classes about the importance of non-violence, but also will spur children to think about how they have a personal responsibility to make the right choices and to help their friends do so as well."

The Governor is asking newspapers across the state to reprint the pledge in tomorrow's papers so teachers may tear it out, photocopy it and ask their students to sign it. Artwork for the pledge may be downloaded at: www.state.co.us/pledge. The Governor is asking that every Colorado student sign a pledge before the end of the school year, turning it into their principal and mailing a copy to the Governor.

The Governor's pledge project is being co-sponsored by the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Association of School Executives and the Colorado Education Association. The pledge is based on one adopted from the national Student Pledge Against Gun Violence. Tonight, the Governor will specifically ask teachers to join him in asking students to sign the pledge when he addresses a memorial service in honor of slain Columbine High School teacher Dave Sanders. The Jefferson County Education Association this evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center will host the service.

The Governor also announced today that the Governor's Summit on Quality Teachers for the 21st Century Classroom, scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday, is being postponed. "Many of the teachers, principals and administrators scheduled to attend the Summit have called and ask that I postpone it until this summer so that they may spend next week in their classrooms with students," Owens said. A new date has not yet been picked.

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