Group holds local vigil for Sandy Hook Shooting anniversary

People gathered at a church in Colorado Springs to hold a vigil on the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting and call for an end to gun violence.

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church held the vigil Monday night. The event was focused on the Sandy Hook Shooting. Three years ago, twenty first graders and six adults were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

Speakers also touched on two recent shooting sprees in Colorado Springs. In October, Noah Harpham killed three near downtown before dying in a shoot out with police. On Nov. 27, a shooter killed two people and a police officer at a Planned Parenthood Clinic.

Tom Mauser’s son Daniel was killed during a shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. Mauser spoke to the crowd gathered inside the church about his experience that day and the way gun violence has forever changed his life. In the years since his son’s death, Mauser has lobbied for stricter gun control to curb the violence.

“We have some common ground on this issue here in America. We have to get away from this polarization that keeps us away from talking about this common ground. See, we can agree and what we can do that’s reasonable,” said Mauser.

Daniel Mauser, 15, was on the Columbine High School debate team. Tom Mauser described his son as “shy” and admires that he faced his fears by joining the debate team. Tom Mauser wore his son’s shoes on stage Monday.

“Daniel was a member of the debate team at Columbine High School. And really good at it. And I think he would have argued the same position as me on this whole issue, this issue of gun violence. And I feel like I am walking in his shoes. I’m able to take his place on the debate team,” said Tom Mauser.

After Mauser’s speech, the crowd lit candles.Kristen Downs brought her family to the vigil. Several years ago, someone wrote a note threatening violence at her children’s school. After that, Downs wrote a letter to her state legislature asking for stricter gun control measures. Downs said she was moved by the vigil.

“I think of my children and I want a better world for my family. Can’t it end now? Can’t we do this for our children and our legacy?” said Downs.

Tom Muaser has written a book chronicling his journey in the aftermath of the Columbine Shooting called “Walking in Daniel’s Shoes.”