Rep. Jason Crow Welcomes Columbine Survivor & Advocate Heather Martin as State of the Union Guest
This Year Marks 25 Years Since the Columbine School Shooting
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), will attend President Biden’s third State of the Union Address with guest Heather Martin, a Columbine school shooting survivor. Now, 25 years after the Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, CO, Heather is a high school teacher and advocates for trauma-informed mental health care.
“I invited Heather to the State of the Union this year to elevate the issue of gun violence. Nearly 25 years since the Columbine massacre, our communities and schools face the constant threat of gun violence. Our work is far from over, and I won’t stop fighting,” said Congressman Crow.
“I’m deeply honored and humbled to join Congressman Crow for the State of the Union. After Columbine, I personally experienced the long-term impacts of gun violence, and now as a high school teacher, aim to be there for my students who consistently face the threat of gun violence,” said Heather Martin, Co-Founder of The Rebels Project. “I’m glad to help shed light on the ongoing needs of survivors like myself and continue supporting prevention measures. There are thousands of us now, and we need help long after the cameras go away.”
Heather Martin was a Senior at Littleton’s Columbine High School when two students opened fire on April 20, 1999, killing 13, physically injuring 21 others, and leaving many marked for life in the deadliest school shooting in US history at the time. While Martin survived physically unharmed, she faced challenges completing her college education in the years following due to the lasting trauma. Ten years later, Martin earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and today serves as an Aurora Public Schools educator. Inspired by the need for support following the Aurora theater shooting, Martin launched The Rebels Project with other Columbine 1999 alumni. The volunteer-driven organization reaches into communities impacted by gun violence in Colorado and nationally to provide trauma-informed support and critical resources for survivors’ resilience.
Colorado’s 6th District has seen disproportionate tragedy due to gun violence – from Columbine in Littleton to the Aurora Theater. As a combat veteran and member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (GVPTF), Congressman Crow knows weapons of war have no place in our communities. Crow has consistently fought for lifesaving measures to end gun violence in our communities, including to ensure proper implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities law – the first comprehensive gun safety reform package in nearly 30 years. Crow continues to be a strong voice in support of a national assault weapons ban and ending the Senate filibuster to move forward on addressing the crisis.
The Columbine massacre, previously the deadliest mass shooting at a K-12 school in US history, was later surpassed by the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in December 2012, the Parkland high school shooting in February 2018, and subsequently by the Uvalde school shooting in May 2022.
As of 2023, gun violence is the leading cause of death among children and teens in the US.