On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, a vigil will be held to honor the 12 students and one teacher who lost their lives in the tragic event. The vigil, organized by gun safety and other advocacy groups, is the primary public commemoration of the anniversary, with a more subdued tone compared to previous milestone years.
Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a vocal advocate for gun safety following her own experience with gun violence, will be among the speakers at the vigil. Also sharing their stories will be individuals like Nathan Hochhalter, whose sister was paralyzed in the Columbine shooting, leading to their mother's tragic death months later.
The vigil, organized by groups such as Colorado Ceasefire and Brady United Against Gun Violence, aims to honor all those affected by the Columbine tragedy without being a political platform. Tom Mauser, who lost his son in the shooting and later became a gun safety advocate, took the initiative to arrange the vigil after learning that no large community event was planned by school officials as in previous anniversaries.
The event, initially scheduled to be held outdoors, was moved indoors due to expected rain. Mauser, a member of Colorado Ceasefire, emphasized the significance of marking 25 years since the shooting, a milestone that resonates with many individuals.
Reflecting on past legislative efforts, Mauser successfully campaigned for a ballot measure in 2000 requiring background checks for all firearm buyers at gun shows in Colorado. This measure aimed to close loopholes that facilitated the Columbine gunmen's access to firearms. Despite a failed national proposal for similar checks in 1999, gun safety has regained political prominence following subsequent mass shootings like Sandy Hook in 2012.
As states adopt varying approaches to gun legislation, the memory of those lost at Columbine remains poignant. The victims, including a heroic teacher and students with diverse aspirations and passions, are remembered as individuals who would now be adults with families of their own.
Sam Cole, another member of Colorado Ceasefire, expressed hope that the vigil would ensure the victims are not forgotten, acknowledging the enduring impact of the tragedy on the community.
