AURORA | Family members of victims of the Aurora massacre and other mass shootings endorsed Hillary Clinton for president Tuesday, Feb. 23, saying that gun control is a critical issue and that Clinton reflects their hope to make substantive changes on the issue.
In a statement from the Clinton campaign, families of four Colorado mass shooting victims backed Clinton as the state presidential caucus approach. Endorsing Clinton Tuesday were Jane Dougherty, whose sister Mary Sherlach was a school psychologist killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School Dec. 14, 2012; Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was killed at Columbine High School April 20, 1999; Coni Sanders, whose father, Dave Sanders, was a teacher killed at Columbine High School April 20, 1999; and Tom Sullivan, whose son Alex was killed in the July 20, 2012, Aurora theater shooting.
In a statement, the group issued this comment:
“For us, this is personal. We know all too well the chaos, suffering, and pain that gun violence has sown on our community. We have received that frantic phone call no family member ever wants to receive; we have had to bury loved ones. That’s why today we are officially endorsing Hillary Clinton for President. Hillary Clinton is the only candidate with a proven track record of standing up to the gun lobby, the only one with the ability and the plan to enact common-sense measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands. With Hillary as president, we believe we have the best chance at putting an end to this senseless gun violence once and for all, and ensuring no more American families have to endure the heartache and tragedy that we have.”
Clinton has been critical of Bernie Sanders’ backing of a federal measure that provides lawsuit immunity to gun dealers and manufacturers for deaths and injuries inflicted by any type of weapon sold.
Coincidentally, Sullivan announced his own candidacy Tuesday for Arapahoe County’s state Senate District 27, saying that time spent at the state Capitol focusing on the issue of gun control was a large factor in his decision to run for a legislative seat.
Colorado Democratic and Republican presidential caucuses are March 1.