Ceasefire’s 25th Anniversary Gala brought out nearly 200 of our biggest supporters Wednesday night, celebrating a quarter-century of work against gun violence and raising $50,000.
The event featured dinner, speakers and a silent auction, arranged around the theme of turning grief into action.
Tom Mauser opened the evening by talking about Ceasefire’s 2000 beginnings as a Political Action Committee, followed by our gradual evolution into a Legislative Action and Outreach organization. He said his work with Ceasefire has been an indispensable part of his own healing process after losing his son, Daniel, in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.
Mauser was followed by Ceasefire lobbyist Anne McGihon, who recounted the gun violence prevention movement’s many wins at the Colorado Legislature over the past several years—as well as the years of slow progress preceding that success, when Republicans held a majority.
Eillen McCarron receiving award from Attorney General Phil Weiser
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser talked about his own work against gun violence, lamenting the passing of days when some Republicans were willing (and still politically able) to reach across the aisle to work on common-sense gun legislation. He mentioned that in the absence of Federal legislation against gun violence, states have become the battleground where such efforts are finding success.
Weiser also called for inclusivity in the gun violence movement, citing the favorable attitudes most gun owners have towards common-sense gun laws and stressing the need to reach out with education and empathy, rather than judgment and condescension, to those on the other side of the issue.
Rob Wilcox, formerly the head of the now-shuttered-by-Trump White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, talked about the many anti-gun-violence measures taken by the Biden administration, many of which have now been undone. Wilcox said he thinks the gun violence prevention movement has now entered a ‘third phase,’ in which states are taking the lead on gun violence issues, with organizations like Colorado Ceasefire crucial to that effort. He lauded Ceasefire for helping make Colorado what he said was one of the ‘top five’ states in terms of progressive action against gun violence.
Former White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention head Rob Wilcox
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of a special award to Colorado Ceasefire founder Eileen McCarron, in recognition of her 25 years of dogged work against gun violence in our state. McCarron said she was as surprised as anyone that the organization has lasted as long as it has, and thanked the many in attendance who have steadfastly supported Ceasefire since its earliest days.
The evening also included a silent auction, including items such as vacation packages, art and household items, and gifts donated by dozens of local businesses. At the end of the evening a paddle raise was also held, which generated nearly $25,000.
Colorado Ceasefire thanks everyone for their support, including event sponsors Denver Health and Knippenberg, Patterson, Langley & Associates; as well as beverage sponsors Ratio Beerworks and Peak Beverage. Their support—as well as that of everyone who attended, bid on auction items or donated—is the reason we are able to continue working to make Colorado safer from gun violence. If you couldn’t make it, it’s not too late to donate! Click here, and thank you!
- CO Ceasefire Statement on Alleged Boulder Attacker’s Attempted Gun Purchase and Universal Background Checks
- Polis Signs Last Five Gun Bills of Record-Breaking Session
- Boulder Suspect Tried to Buy Gun, Was Stopped by NICS. And oh, yeah, Trump May End NICS.
- Supremes Decline to Hear More Gun Cases, for Now
- A Farewell (for now) Note from Adam Shore
