VA 2026 Legislative Celebration
Please join Safer Country for an evening to celebrate Virginia's 2026 gun violence prevention legislative success on Thursday, April 16 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Eileen Cassidy Rivera's home, 205 Clifford Avenue, Del Ray, Alexandria.
Featured Speakers
State Senator Saddam Salim (District 37)
Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk Greg Parks
Special Zoom Appearance
Safe Illinois CEO Sara Knizhnik
Dr. Anthony Douglas
Saddam Salim will be speaking about his leadership role in passing Virginia's assault weapons ban law and the other new gun laws.
Greg Parks will be speaking about his ground-breaking work to advance gun violence prevention in his office.
Sara Knizhnik and Anthony Douglas will be speaking about the RIFL Act, their revolutionary proposed law to hold gun manufacturers accountable.
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Safer Country Student Advocate
Leona Paradkar - Rock Ridge HS
Founder, Safer Country HS Club
Featured Interns
Keely Calloway - George Mason
Ella Malik - Flint Hill HS
Special Guests
Charlie Keimweiss - Georgetown
Camryn Scanson - Georgetown
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Special Silent Auction Item
Les Moineaux - $800 minimum bid
Efficiency unit within a 16th century stone villa located in the sunny, beautiful Languedoc countryside of France,.7 nights for 2 guests (as available) - Donated by Loren Hershey
Co-Sponsors Ronald Abramson, Peter Appel, Loren Hershey, Simpson Development Co., Laura Mandala, Laurie Solomon, Ret. Army Col. Gordon Sumner, Boyd Walker
Co-Chairs
Co-Hosts
Sponsors list in development
Safer Country Board Members
Hala Ayala - Virginia Democratic Women's Caucus Chair, National NOW PAC Director
Lori Friedman - CPA, Safer Country Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Friedman, JD - Safer Country Founder/President/Executive Director
Andrew Goddard - Virginia Center for Public Safety Legislative Director (father of a Virginia Tech survivor)
Laura Mandala - Managing Director, Mandala Research; Safer Country Vice President
Laurie Solomon, JD - Retired EPA Specialist
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Safer Country
Safer Country created the "Prevent A Gun Tragedy - SPEAK UP!" Red Flag law public awareness campaign by working with Fairfax County. The law, technically called the Substantial Risk Order, enables an judge to issue a civil order the temporary removal of guns from a person when there is sufficient evidence that the person is a danger to themselves or others. No criminal record is created.
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Safer Country is a 501(c)(3) education and advocacy group. Contributions are tax deductible to the maximum extent of the law.
We are dedicated to keeping guns out of unsafe hands.
We appreciate checks to avoid processing fees. Checks may be mailed to:
Safer Country
P.O. Box 372
Alexandria, VA 22313-0372
Together we will create a Safer Country!
Contribution rules
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