#1933

Hi everyone, I know you all have a story. A story of survival, of terror, uncertainty and bravery. You are brave. Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Don’t diminish your struggle and your strength. My story started in 1998 when an officer, having heard that my boyfriend had strangled me, told me that I should have played dead instead of fighting for my life. In 2000, my best friend, my soul sister, was murdered by her boyfriend. In 2009, I thought my prince had come. Instead, I faced 15 years begging a broken system to save my kids and I. I was painted as the angry ex, the manipulator, and told that my ex just wanted to be a father. I will never forget the day that I stood on my porch with sheriff’s deputies threatening to arrest me as I explained through my tears that enough was enough, and I would not allow my children to be abused, no matter what they chose to do to me. 3 long and brutal hours later, the officers left my driveway, and my children held me while they sobbed and finally felt safe. Months later, our CFI finally validated what I’d been saying for a decade. My children weren’t safe with him. My story is not unique, it is an unfortunate norm. I’ve spent 26 years begging, pleading, and mourning, hoping for change. That stops today. I will no longer tolerate a system of failure. I know there are a multitude of resources available for victims of domestic abuse. The selfless and courageous individuals who stand behind the victims, offer support, and hold us up. I didn’t get the opportunity. My children didn’t get the opportunity. The fragmented system failed us, and we had nowhere to turn but to stand on that porch and say, “do what you have to do”. In 2000, I raged, I broke, and I thought there must be something I can do. In 2015 I raged, I broke, and I pleaded for help. In 2024 I read the story about Kayden’s Law, and said “not my babies”. In 2025 I went back to school for my degree in legal studies, and today I say there will be a change. I know the statistics, and they are devastating. 61,000 domestic violence calls to service in Colorado annually, 65%-80% are repeat offenders, over 30% of the population will be affected by domestic violence in their lifetime, 25% of assaults and 15% of homicides are attributed to domestic violence each year, and so far there have been 38 domestic violence deaths and 8 child deaths in Colorado this year. The statistics show that it takes an average of 7 attempts for victims to leave domestic violence situations, and these calls are the number one most dangerous calls for officers. The time is now. A change is needed. I plan to petition the state of Colorado to require highly trained civilians at every single domestic violence and child welfare call. I plan to bridge the gap between the existing resources and the citizens of our great state who are in need. I had nowhere to turn, and today I say, no more. I stand on the porch with my fellow survivors and say, this ends now. I can’t succeed alone, not this time, so I ask you all to stand behind me and your fellow survivors to say “enough is enough”, and together we will survive and thrive. Please check out my website and review my proposed legislation at website. Your support means the world, and your stories help show the importance of this legislation. I’m planning an event in early September, which I hope you will join, if only to know that you’re not alone. Details to come. All my very best, Survivor