Candlelight vigil in Aurora calls for stricter gun laws

A candlelight vigil for victims of gun violence Friday night in Aurora, by design, became a political rally calling for stricter gun laws.

The rally, attended by about 75 people, kicked off about 6:30 p.m. at 3300 S. Parker Road in front of a building where U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman runs a local office.

Coffman was not present, but attendees brought a life-size cardboard cutout of the congressman.

“I don’t know about you, but my heart is aching, my soul is broken,” said state Rep. Rhonda Fields, DAurora, a gun-control advocate. Fields’ son, Javad Marshall-Fields, was murdered, fatally shot, in 2005, along with his fiancee, Vivian Wolfe.

Fields recalled Columbine, the Aurora theater massacre, Sandy Hook, the Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida and the Las Vegas attack.

She identified a common thread in the infamous tragedies — an “assault rifle.”

“What’s it going to take?” she emotionally begged the question for legislators to take action and tighten the availability of assault rifles, bump stocks and armor-piercing ammunition.

Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was murdered at Columbine High School, attended the vigil wearing his son’s shoes.

Mauser, a nationally recognized gun-control advocate, led the gathering in prayer. Mauser prayed for Las Vegas victims, their families, first responders, survivors and all who step forward during the chaos of mass shootings to render aid and comfort. “Pray that we, as a nation, will not turn to hopelessness and only see the worst of humanity,” Mauser urged.