Larimer County coalition launches 'Be Awkward Ask' PSA after survey finds 1 in 4 students could access loaded gun

Larimer County officials and community partners on Aug. 26 unveiled “Be Awkward Ask,” a public‑service announcement encouraging parents, caregivers and community members to have direct conversations about safe gun storage after a county survey found widespread youth access to unsecured firearms.

The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition — a partnership of county health and justice agencies, law enforcement, school districts and community organizations — presented the under‑two‑minute video during the Board of County Commissioners’ administrative matters meeting.

“We're very, very excited today to launch our next campaign called Be Awkward Ask,” said Emily Humphrey, service area director for Community Justice Alternatives, describing the coalition as “neutral” and focused on protecting youth “through education, intervention, community engagement, and promotion of safe and secure gun storage.”

Why it matters: The coalition said results from the Healthy Kids Colorado survey showed about one in four Larimer County students reported they could access a loaded firearm without an adult’s permission. The coalition and the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment said that finding prompted the PSA and outreach campaign.

Tom Gonzalez, Larimer County public health director, described the data and the county's response: “1 in 4 of our students in our county reporting having access to a loaded gun without an adult's permission is a high risk situation.” Gonzalez said Jared Olsen, the county’s senior population epidemiologist, secured a mini grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment that helped fund the video.

The coalition listed multiple partners at the meeting, including the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, Larimer County Community Justice Alternatives, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Loveland Police Department, Fort Collins Police Services, Estes Park Police Department, the Larimer County Coroner’s Office, Poudre School District, Thompson School District, Estes Park School District, UCHealth and nonprofit partners such as the Alliance for Suicide Prevention and Imagine 0. Poudre School District Superintendent Brian Kingsley praised the regional collaboration, saying, “This is how we act on a daily basis.”

Presenters and commissioners described distribution plans but did not vote on an ordinance or funding at the meeting. Emily Humphrey said the coalition expects local public information officers to post and share the PSA on social media and in newsletters, and the school districts to include it in student and parent communications. Commissioners and presenters discussed additional outreach routes, including student announcements, early‑childhood networks and daycare providers.

Commissioners asked how the video would reach younger caregivers and students. Humphrey said the coalition has engaged PIOs and the Early Childhood Council and will pursue subtitles or a Spanish version. “We’ll either have subtitles or have it translated into Spanish,” she said.

No formal county action was required to release the PSA. Commissioners praised the coalition and encouraged partners to distribute the material across their networks.

The coalition asked other communities to reuse the material; Gonzalez said Colorado public health officials expressed interest in wider dissemination after the county’s release.

The commission paused for a group photo following the presentation; commissioners then resumed the rest of the agenda.