Original Message -----

From: Tom Mauser

To: Joseph Raglione

Ex/Dir: The World Humanitarian Peace and Ecology Movement.

Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 5:56 PM

Subject: My son Daniel

Joseph -- My son, Daniel, was a smart, quiet kid.   He'd just become a straight-A student, and he was overcoming his shyness as a new member of the debate team.   On April 20th, 1999, my beautiful and bright 15-year-old son was killed by two teenagers with guns in the library of Columbine High School -- one of 12 innocent kids who lost their lives for no reason at all.   It's been 14 years since that horrible day -- 14 years of fighting so no family has to grieve like ours did.   These tragedies keep happening, and so far, Congress has failed to take common-sense action to stop them -- even though nine in 10 Americans have agreed that it's time to act by expanding background checks to close the loopholes that put guns in the hands of dangerous people.    This Wednesday, OFA and allied organizations are standing up for a national Day of Action to ask members of Congress: What will it take to finally act to prevent gun violence? I hope you'll join in -- say you'll do one thing this week to show Congress you want action to prevent gun violence. The last questions you ever want to hear as a parent are: "What was your child wearing, and do you have any dental records?" That's what the police asked me the evening of the shooting at Columbine High, as they tried to establish who had been killed. It was the most hopeless I'd ever felt. Since Daniel's death, I've found a way to honor him: by trying to prevent other families from feeling this pain. I've advocated locally and nationally for smarter gun laws -- even helping achieve a statewide ballot victory here in Colorado. In December, when I heard about the shooting in Newtown, I sat in my office and broke down. I was watching another community torn apart by guns -- more parents grieving, more kids who would never see graduation, or a wedding, or a family of their own. And in the wake of another tragedy, nine in 10 Americans agreed that it was time to act -- expand background checks to close the loopholes that put guns in the hands of dangerous people. But Congress disappointed us, putting politics above the safety of our kids. That's why this week, we're asking: How many parents will have to go through what I did before we say "enough"? You should be a part of this, too. Tell Congress you're going to keep asking until they act: http://my.barackobama.com/Do-One-Thing-for-Gun-Violence-Prevention Thank you, Tom Tom Mauser Littleton, Colorado ==================================== Dear Tom Mauser:  There are no words I can write that will help you alleviate the pain of your loss. I can, however, inform you that I've been on the world wide web from it's inception and that I will continue to use my computer to fight for you and for others like yourself who have suffered great personal loss. Your letter will be delivered to the millions of AVAAZ readers who make up Al Gore's powerful organization and to as many readers as I can reach using my Google blog and this old computer. However, Google has yet to prove itself as an unbiased media outlet.  I've not heard from Michael Moore in a while but he was a champion for your cause.  I am hoping he has not given up.   The second amendment of the United States is all that stands in the way of gun reform. The NRA loves to hide behind the second amendment! They hold it up like a sacred shield from the past  but that ancient law was not meant to protect modern day psychopathic killers of children. It was meant to protect a struggling new nation from invasion by a dangerous foreign government. I suggested to your president Obama that he hold a national referendum asking U.S. citizens if the second amendment should be changed to exclude automatic weapons. When the second amendment was created by the founding fathers of your country, they were talking about one shot rifles and squirrel guns and certainly not about modern day assault rifles or even multi-bullet hand guns for that matter. For that reason alone the second amendment must be changed.  I suggest you contact as many radio and television stations as possible and ask for their help creating a referendum. The politicians will almost certainly jump in on the action once the ball is rolling. Thank you for your letter and yes, I will help you keep the media ball rolling. Signed: Joseph Raglione Executive director: The world humanitarian peace and ecology movement.