Gathered on the steps of Santa Barbara’s magnificent Spanish-style courthouse at 10:00am January 8, 2012, members of the community marked the anniversary of the Tucson shooting with a memorial vigil. Organized by the Coalition Against Gun Violence, a grassroots nonprofit and only gun control organization on California’s Central Coast for 18 years, the vigil was well attended by many who have been affected personally by gun violence. These individuals lined up to ring the bell and announced the names of their loved ones whose memories they were honoring. Beginning with the six victims from Tucson, we then honored the memories of the three other California mass shooting in 2011.

Ed Easton, Mayor of neighboring Goleta, solemnly rang the bell six times while reading the names of the victims of the Goleta Post Office tragedy, January 30, 2006. Many more tollers of the bell followed, recalling friends and family members who have fallen due to gun violence. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal rang the bell in honor of his sister, and his brother in law.

Other local officials addressed the gathering, urging us not only to remember the fallen but encouraging us to do something about it. Congresswoman Lois Capps gave an emotional speech recalling her good friend and colleague Gabrielle Giffords and called upon us to push Congress for safer gun laws. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf reminded us “in addition to monitoring and advocating for sensible gun legislation to prevent further tragedy, we also need to look at strengthening our mental and public health systems, recognizing the vital role that treatment and intervention can play in reducing the incidence of gun violence in the first place.”

Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider urged everyone to keep in mind the importance of civility, especially in political discourse. As the 2012 election year heats up and the rhetoric on all sides escalates, we must communicate respectfully and peacefully.

The Chair of the Coalition Against Gun Violence, Toni Wellen, summed up everyone’s sentiment with the simple statement, “There are too many victims lost to gun violence. Enough is enough.”

Love Park in Center City, Philadelphia, welcomed 65 people committed to ending gun violence to our Too Many Victims vigil on Sunday evening. Hosted by Heeding God’s Call, a growing multi-faith, grassroots campaign to prevent gun violence, the candlelit vigil was joined by participants from CeaseFirePA, Mothers in Charge, and the Brady Campaign. Prayer and singing engaged the group huddled together against the wind which blew out candles but not the light that shines from within and shines brightly on this issue. The group heard from Pennsylvania Senator Larry Farnese and Philadelphia Director of Public Safety Michael Resnick as well as from clergy and faith leaders from around the city and suburbs. Although “anniversary” might seem too celebratory for such a solemn moment, we knew that we were joined in solidarity by thousands of others across the country who also gathered in the light to remember those who died last January in Tucson. We prayed for those who continue to mend their bodies and spirits following the Tuscon Massacre, and reminded ourselves that since January 8, 2011, 12,000 Americans have been murdered as the result of gun violence while a total of nearly 30,000 die each year from gun violence. We recognized our call to action in this City of Brotherly Love which has the highest homicide rate of the nation’s ten most populous cities, an average of nearly one per day. We reminded one another that we have much to do … but that we are not alone in this journey. — Rev. James F. McIntire, Chair, Heeding God’s Call

The weekend of our January board meeting of the League of Women Voters of South Hampton Roads marked the first anniversary of the tragic shootings in Tucson, Arizona. National gun violence prevention groups led by Virgina Tech shooting survivor and current Brady Campaign staffer Colin Goddard reached out to organizations and activists all over the country to hold vigils in recognition that there are too many victims of gun violence and advised that we can take steps to help prevent tragedies.

Jennette Franklin and Kaye Tice organized a short vigil at noon following our board meeting at the South Hampton Roads YWCA. It included reading our proclamation that evolved from our gun study committee’s work on Making Common Sense of the Second Amendment and a symbolic casting of flowers into the Lafayette river to commemorate victims. We were joined by several activists from the South Hampton Roads region. Participants shared memories and concerns.

On a surprisingly warm Michigan evening on Detroit’s eastside, 27 youth, ages six through 18 gathered at newly restored Beland-Manning Park. Darkness was chasing away the sunlight as little children eagerly climbed the playscape and screamed with delight. They were playing in their new park! Several of the older teens smiled with pride. They were among many volunteers who restored the park during the summer. A van from Detroit’s WXYZ/Channel 7 News parked and a news reporter and cameraman got out to interview and videotape the youth as they played. Two years ago, the park was a wasteland with high grass and litter. Little children were discouraged from playing in the area. The youth of Neighborhood Service Organization’s Youth Initiatives Project (YIP) along with other volunteers decided to help fix up the park to improve the community. On this day, however, they decided to also have a candlelight vigil to honor those who lost their lives to gun violence. They called their younger peers to their small circle and passed out candles to everyone. The younger children were placed in the middle of the circle. Prayers and comments were made for fathers, uncles, brothers, sisters, mothers and close friends. Too many victims were named. Yet, the park symbolized renewal to all. The reporter and camerman were moved. That’s the reaction the youth wanted.

View the story by WXYZ-TV by clicking here.

All told, about 30 people gathered to remember people who we have recently lost to gun violence. At a National Parks site, we honored the life of recent murdered U.S. Park Ranger Margaret Anderson who was killed in the line of duty on New Year’s Eve at Mount Rainier National Park. The group also higlighted recent assaults and killings in the Topeka area, including the death of local business owner Corey Brown who was murdered just a few days before the vigil. Vigil participants shared thoughts, sang songs, and lit candles to recognize victims of the violence that has assaulted the communty. At the end, local civic activist Sonny Scroggins tied a black ribbon around a tree and prayed that this will mark an end to violence in this community.

People in Reading, PA joined Mayor Spencer in lighting candles to remember those who have lost their lives to gun violence and to demand that their elected officials take action to end the proliferation of illegal guns.

Jim and I and our family held a private candlelight vigil in our home to remember the victims of the Tucson, AZ shootings and those who have been wounded and lost through gun violence all over this country. We know, better than we would like to, the suffering that so many Americans experience because of gun violence. For that reason, we have dedicated our lives to reducing this toll. On January 8, we reflected with sadness, but our hearts were also cheered as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords led the Pledge of Allegiance before an audience of thousands in Tucson. We are so encouraged by her wonderful progress. Her will to fight should inspire and motivate us all.

Sarah Brady

Majahne Williams, 14 years old, takes part in a candlelight vigil to highlight the need to combat gun violence. Majahne lost her mom, Natalie Williams, to domestic violence involving a gun, in December 2000. The vigil was held inside Niles Chapel in Princeton.
By Mary Iuvone/For the Times of Trenton

Starting at 5:00 p.m. on the steps of the old Federal Building, the Eugene, Oregon vigil was an outdoor event. Candles were lit. Short speeches were made by Betsy Steffensen (from Million Mom March), Baldr Odinson (Ceasefire Oregon), Denise Baker (Lane County Suicide Prevention), and Eugene mayor Kitty Piercy (a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns). The speeches emphasized the need to lock up and unload guns in homes with children, the lack of background checks for private sales, and the need for civility in discourse about guns. Most of all, the greatest emphasis was on the overwhelming number of case of gun violence, both in the U.S. and here in Lane County, Oregon.

There was a moment of silence, then the reading of names of those in the county who had been victims of gun violence. This was particularly moving, as a young man had the week before been accidentally shot by his juvenile brother, even though they lived ON the grounds of a gun club, had grown up with guns as part of their lives, and whose family were custodians of the club. Friends and family of the slain young man were present at the ceremony. Also moving was the account of Officer Kilcullen, killed last year by a seriously mentally ill person who had purchased her gun legally. After the reading, people were invited to come up and read names of others not listed.

After the reading of names, a prayer was offered by a member of Church Women United, and then Amazing Grace was played by a bagpiper before we adjourned.

Though it was a cold night for our area, in the mid-30′s, there was a turnout of around 50 people, each holding lit candles. Looking out over the crowd during the moment of silence is a memory I will always cherish for its emotion.

The Eugene, Oregon vigil was co-sponsored by a number of organizations: Ceasefire Oregon, Million Mom March, Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation, Democratic Party of Lane County Peace Caucus, and Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC). Other groups helped spread the word, including Beyond War, Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND), Church Women United, and Occupy Eugene.

Ohioans showed their respect and honored the victims of gun violence in twelve different places on Sunday. There were four events and eight churches which equaled more than 3,300 people offering prayer, silence and song, and candlelight in memory of all victims and survivors of gun violence. Three events were held in Columbus Ohio. Ohio State Representative Tracey Maxwell Heard attended and spoke at one event and Ohio State Representative Ted Celeste participated in the First English Church event. Both of these were evening events with speakers, victims and advocates. In Beachwood, Mayor Earl Leiken of Shaker Heights joined the crowd to form a circle of candlelight. In Sylvania, Toledo, Columbus and Lyndhurst churches, prayers were offered and candles were lit, some in ceremony and some as a single light burning in remembrance. Faith leaders asked the participants to remember all victims during their Sunday services. In Fremont, Perrysburg, and Columbus churches said prayers with their congregations, had special candles burning and were invited by their pastors to be part of the solution to change our culture of violence. Everyone embraced the concern that there are Too Many Victims!

As evening descended on a day of vigils in remembrance of the first anniversary of the Tucson shootings and all victims of gun violence, people of peace gathered at First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple for an evening candlelight vigil and remembrance. The event was hosted by the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.
Joining the vigil were Congressmen Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Mike Quigley, both of Chicago, and both strong advocates for common-sense gun laws. Following a welcome and opening prayer from Rev. Wendy Witt of the host church, both Congressmen eloquently spoke of the ravages of gun violence throughout this country and our community, and both called for action. Congressman Jackson reflected on the return of his colleague, Comgresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, to the House floor for a key vote and as a show of strength.
The vigil then turned to remembering local victims and their families and calling on elected officials, community leaders and residents to stop the madness and work to end gun violence.
Sarita Villarreal shared the story of her brother, Antonio Marquez, killed in 2002 when he stopped to help a homeless person only blocks from his home. Two months later, his wife gave birth to their son who never had an opportunity to meet his dad.
Pam Bosely, who lost her son Terrill to senseless violence, shared the message of Elder Bernice King (daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, Jr. and Coretta Scott King) from an earlier sermon during which she stressed one’s needed to turn in their piece if they wanted real peace. What an inspiring message for us all.
After the last call to action by 24-year-old activist Camiella Williams, who talked about how wrong it is that someone so young should have buried 18 of her friends because of violence, the families, friends and participants at the vigil stood with candles aglow and spoke the names of their loved ones lost to or injured to gun violence. The pain of those loses was obvious to all but equally important was the hope and dedication on the lips of all that we MUST end this senseless gun violence now. What a truly uplifting experience for all.

More than 40 people attended the Vancouver, WA vigil at the beautiful St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Vancouver. Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt spoke about a childhood friend being killed by a boy playing with an unsecured shotgun. Andrea Banister shared her story, for the first time publicly, about surviving the Columbine High School massacre. In between speakers the crowd listened to the talented Lauren and Jordan Berg sing a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace and The Lord Keep and Bless You. The names of the 19 people shot in Tucson, AZ on January 8, 2011 were read and members of the crowd stood up to share the name of a loved one lost to gun violence. As candles were being lit, cellist Theresa Mammerella played The Swan which brought many of the attendees to tears. Pastor Chris Nolte and Vicar Matt Anderson led prayers throughout the program. It was a wonderful and moving vigil!

The vigil held in Stamford, CT started at the Old Town Hall. From there, a march led to the Unitarian Universalist Chirch, where the vigil was held. The vigil was sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Southwestern CT and CT Against Gun Violence. Remarks were made by families of victims, elected officials, community leaders and members of the Faith community.