Was Mark Glaze alcoholic? Founder of US gun control movement dies by suicide at 51
Mark Glaze, a campaigner who helped found the modern gun control movement, killed himself while being held in jail on a DUI charge. The news of his death surfaced recently, but the 51-year-old had actually killed himself last month while being held at Lackawanna County Prison in Pennsylvania. A father of one kid, Glaze was reportedly suffering from addiction and severe depression.
Glaze was born on October 21, 1970, in Pueblo, Colorado, to parents Charles Glaze and Nancy Green. He was a Truman Foundation Scholar at Colorado College and an honors graduate of the George Washington University Law School. He served as an advisor to the Commission on Federal Election Reform led by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker.
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"Mark was a wonderful man and very successful in the eyes of the world. He overcame many obstacles to accomplish so much during his 51 years. Mark was a seasoned strategist in public affairs, advocacy and politics. He managed complex national and state issue campaigns, using all the tools of modern persuasion, to improve public policy on some of the toughest issues we face, against some of the most powerful special interests. Mark's clients included some of America's best-known nonprofits, foundations and corporations," a post on Glaze's Facebook page reads. "Prior to beginning his consulting practice in June 2014, Mark served as executive director of Everytown for Gun Safety, a bipartisan group chaired by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. According to the Wall Street Journal, after the Newtown mass shooting, Mark became "the face of the gun control movement.”
"As we celebrate the life of our beloved Mark, we would be remiss not to mention his harrowing struggle with alcohol, depression, and anxiety. In the last years of his life, Mark actively sought help. He completed several treatment programs, with the hope of finding peace and breaking free of the addictive cycle that caused him to feel so desperately alone and in pain. Mark took his own life while being held on DUI charges at the Lackawanna County Prison. While it may be difficult to discuss this specific cause of death, with suicide as the tenth leading cause of mortality in the United States– the numbers and instances are too frequent and increasing to ignore. All who have been bereaved by suicide face a time of unimaginable grief, misplaced guilt, and unanswerable questions. We pray that by being open about Mark’s cause of death, something positive may emerge from our devastating loss. Perhaps our frank discussion may even save lives. Omission of the true cause of death allows mental illness to remain impersonal, a silent killer. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States at 1-800-273-TALK," the post adds.
Glaze, who was gay and a well-known campaigner for LGBT rights, lost both his father, Charles E. Glaze of Gunnison, Colorado, and his mother, Nancy L. Green of Pueblo, Colorado, before him. He is survived by his 14-year-old son, Archer; aunts, uncles, and cousins.
