Days before the 25th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School, survivors, legislators and advocates held a press conference in Washington D.C. to bring attention to gun violence and to advocate for prevention measures.
Tom Mauser, the father of Daniel Mauser, who was killed in the April 20, 1999, shooting, recited his son’s name and the other 12 victims.
Mauser praised an effort by the Biden Administration to close the gun show loophole, but said more needs to be done.
“We can not wait another 25 years to get a significant gun safety legislature,” Mauser said. “The story is not over – not just for Columbine and the Columbine community, but in the case of all gun violence. It’s important for people to know that for the people who’ve lived through gun violence the story is never over.”
Congressman Jason Crow, the Democrat who represents Colorado’s 6th District, which includes Littleton, said the country failed to implement strong measures in the wake of Columbine to prevent school shootings. He added that 25 years later, “gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens everywhere in America.”
Between 2019 to 2021, the number of minors killed by gunfire in America increased by 50%, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of federal mortality statistics. The analysis shows that prior to the pandemic there were about 1,732 deaths among minors. That number increased to 2,590 in 2021. The total number of gun deaths among minors in 2021 included homicides, suicides, accidents and all other categories where firearms are listed on death certificates as the underlying cause of death.
Other people who spoke included Rep. Diana DeGette, Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Chair of House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Rep. Mike Thompson, Brady’s Team ENOUGH Executive Council member Stephan Abrams and Executive Director of Moms Demand Action Angela Ferrell-Zabala.
Crow said Colorado is doing more than Congress when it comes to laws involving restricting firearms.
“I am proud that Colorado is leading and passing gun violence prevention measures in the state legislature, but we must do more at the federal level to do more to save lives,” Crow said. “Despite what we know that common sense measures like the assault weapons ban, universal background checks and red flag laws save lives, Congress has failed to make any significant changes.”
While he also commends the Biden Administration’s attempts to close the gun show loophole, Crow said more needs to be done.
Kiki Leyba, survivor and who now is a teacher at Columbine High School, said people are not always aware of the toll gun violence takes on victims, families and communities.
“The impact of gun violence lives long beyond the day of the tragedy and it is a painful, difficult and lonely journey for the community in the aftermath of gun violence,” Leyba said.
He said the trauma “takes up residence” in a community, but Columbine is rising above it.
“I like to think that as a teacher at Columbine, our staff, that we teach our students to rise above, to have hope and not be remembered for that tragedy,” Leyba said.
He cited the school’s Day of Service as an example.
As a way to honor those lost, the school has hosted a Day of Service on April 20 since 2017. It’s a time when students, staff and alumni give back to the community through various projects, such as volunteering at an animal shelter, meeting with senior citizens, cleaning up the school campus and more.
Leyba said about 2,000 people will participate in this year’s Day of Service on Saturday.
“That’s just one way that I think we find hope in this,” Leyba said. “Instead of having a day of sadness, we go out and work and that’s what we’re here to do today. Is to do the work it takes to make this change happen. I believe it will happen. I believe in the younger generation coming up and young voters.”
For more information on the Columbine’s Day of Service visit columbineserves.org.