Finding ways to prevent the tragedy of gun violence in America will be the topic of a special program sponsored by the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club at the LOW Clubhouse on Sunday, Feb. 24.
Lori Haas, a spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence will speak at 1 p.m. in the Lower Level of the Clubhouse. Everyone is invited to attend, regardless of political affiliation.
Ms. Haas has been an advocate for more effective gun policy since her daughter Emily was shot and injured in the massacre at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in April 2007.
She works on legislation at the state and federal levels and promotes responsible gun laws in an effort to prevent gun violence. Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012, Ms. Haas has appeared in several national forums, including an appearance with parents of Sandy Hook victims.
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is a small non-profit organization that has worked on gun violence prevention for more than 20 years. She is a board member of that organization.
Ms. Haas has worked with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Virginia Center for Public Safety, Protest Easy Guns and Mayors Against Illegal guns. She has lobbied on Capital Hill in Washington and before the Virginia General Assembly for responsible gun laws numerous times. She promotes awareness of the issue by speaking to various groups from her perspective as a family member of someone who has survived gun violence.
Ms. Haas graduated in 1976 from Saint Gertrude High School and attended Virginia Tech for two years. After a successful career in real estate, Lori volunteered for many neighborhood, church, school and civic organizations. She was born and still lives in Richmond.
She is married and has three children: Emily lives in Madison and teaches at the Grymes Memorial Day School; her son, Wyatt, is a junior at William & Mary in Williamsburg; and her son, Townley, is a sophomore at Benedictine College Prepatory School in Richmond.
View the video below to hear Ms. Haas’ personal testimony.