Assuming the office United States Attorney for Colorado the day after the Columbine High School massacre , Strickland 's legacy as U.S. Attorney is his tough stance on gun crime . Shortly after taking office , Strickland led efforts to enact Colorado 's Project Exile , under which Federal and local prosecutors would cooperate to bring gun charges under state or federal laws , whichever would offer the toughest sentence . During its first year , Colorado Project Exile doubled the number of people who were charged with violating state and federal gun laws in Colorado . Under Strickland 's leadership , the project launched with support from gun rights groups including the National Rifle Association and gun control groups such as Handgun Control , Inc . Strickland 's most notable cases include the prosecution of 25 people associated with a major cocaine distribution ring outside of Colorado Springs , Colo. , the indictment of 42 people associated with a motorcycle gang , and the indictment of representatives from three drug running organizations in one of the largest drug roundups in the state 's history . In 2000 , he prosecuted of the largest drug bust in Longmont 's history , an investigation that grew to include California and Nebraska and involved the Internal Revenue Service , the U.S. Attorney 's office , the Federal Housing Authority and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
Tom Strickland