AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — It’s been nearly 10 years since 12 people lost their lives when a gunman in tactical gear opened fire at the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, injuring 70 more.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow joined survivors of the shooting and gun reform advocates to discuss how little gun legislation has moved in the decade since the shooting until a recent bipartisan reform bill was signed into law weeks ago.
“The honesty is, that if you live in a community that’s been scared and traumatized on a massive scale and our children and our neighbors live in fear in trauma over the next school shooting,” Rep. Crow said.
While Crow said the new gun violence prevention bill is the first step, and “there’s much more to be done.”
“Tomorrow would be the day my son Alex would be turning 37,” said State Representative Tom Sullivan, who lost his son in the shooting. “I’ll be home babysitting my granddaughter Molly, who is never going to meet his uncle Alex.”
Sullivan pointed to legislative successes for gun reform, including his effort to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in Colorado.
Meanwhile, Aurora Theater shooting survivors like Jenalise Long said the shooting has impacted how she prepares for everyday things, even running errands.
“To even go to the store, I have backup plans, I have to know the exits, I have to plan my whole entire shopping trip to make sure everyone’s safe, always watching,” Long said. “And sending my kids to school was probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to do last year since they just became old enough to go to school.”
Ahead of the anniversary of the shooting that happened on July 20, 2012, FOX31 sat down with the first responders leading command that night.
You can watch Crow and survivors’ on FOX31 NOW in the player above.