On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, a vigil will be held to remember the 12 students and one teacher who lost their lives. This vigil, organized by gun safety organizations, will be the main public event commemorating the tragic day. Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a survivor of a mass shooting herself, will be speaking at the vigil, along with Nathan Hochhalter, whose sister was left paralyzed after the shooting. The event is not intended to be political, but rather a chance for the community to come together to honor and remember those who were impacted by the Columbine tragedy.
Tom Mauser, a father who lost his son in the Columbine shooting and has since become a gun safety advocate, spearheaded the organization of the vigil. He wanted to provide an opportunity for people to gather and reflect on the 25 years that have passed since the tragic event. Mauser realized that it takes significant resources to organize a large community event, so he worked with gun safety organizations to bring the vigil to fruition. Despite the somber nature of the occasion, Mauser believes that it is important for those who wish to remember the victims to have a space to do so.
The Columbine shooting had a profound impact on school shooting protocols in the United States. Experts note that after Columbine, a shift occurred towards an “every second counts” approach to responding to such incidents. Gun safety advocates like Mauser worked to pass legislation that would require background checks for firearm buyers at gun shows, aiming to close loopholes that allowed individuals to acquire firearms easily. While a national proposal for such checks failed in Congress in 1999, states have taken different approaches to gun safety legislation in the absence of federal action.
The victims of the Columbine shooting were diverse, with dreams and aspirations that were cut short by the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day. Among the students killed were a music enthusiast planning to follow in his father’s footsteps, a senior and varsity volleyball team captain, and a teen who enjoyed off-road driving in his pickup truck. Dave Sanders, a teacher at Columbine, also lost his life while trying to protect his students during the attack. Their memories continue to live on, and it is important for the community to come together and honor their lives as it approaches the 25th anniversary of the shooting.
Gun safety advocates hope that events like the Columbine vigil will keep the memory of the victims alive and prevent their stories from fading into the background. Sam Cole, a Colorado Ceasefire board member, emphasized the importance of remembering the students who were killed, noting that they would now be adults in the prime of their lives with families of their own. As the community gathers to reflect on the tragic events of Columbine, it serves as a reminder of the impact of gun violence and the ongoing efforts to promote gun safety and prevent future tragedies.
Columbine survivor Nathan Hochhalter is expected to speak at the vigil, sharing his experience as a sibling of a victim of the shooting. His sister, Anne Marie, was paralyzed in the attack, and tragically, their mother took her own life several months after the shooting. Hochhalter’s presence at the vigil serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of gun violence on families and communities. Through events like the Columbine vigil, advocates and survivors come together to honor the memory of those lost and work towards a future where such tragedies are prevented.