In The Aftermath of Gun Violence, Remembrances of Past Violence, and a Plea For Action
WASHINGTON, April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, April 16, marks the second anniversary of the Virginia Tech tragedy in Blacksburg, Virginia, which left 32 innocent victims dead, and survivors and family members still trying to cope with their grief. Four days later, April 20, is the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of Columbine High School, which left 12 students and a teacher dead.
Tomorrow, Virginia Tech students, survivors and parents of students who died or were injured will participate in remembrance activities on the University's Lower Drillfield at 3 PM. On Monday at 11 AM, Colorado time, at the state Capitol building in Denver, Colorado, a remembrance ceremony will be led by Tom Mauser, the father of Daniel Mauser, who died at Columbine. A Virginia Tech survivor and three parents of other shooting victims who survived will attend that ceremony.
Other events marking the anniversaries are planned for New York's Times Square; Austin, Texas; Miami and Washington D.C. on Thursday and in Duluth, Minnesota and Seattle, Washington on Monday.
"Gun violence in America is not a new problem, but it is a problem that Congress has avoided long enough," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, who will fly to Denver to participate in the Columbine ceremony. "I urge the Congress and the President to honor the memories of all gun violence victims on the anniversaries of the shootings at Virginia Tech and Columbine by taking action. One immediate step they can take is to close the gun show loophole and require Brady background checks on all gun sales."
As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.
