President Biden today announced the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to help reduce and prevent gun violence in American communities.
Sandy Hook Promise has long advocated for a dedicated White House office focused on preventing gun violence to elevate and integrate sensible, bipartisan solutions to curb the epidemic across the domestic policy agenda, from education to healthcare. Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, attended today’s Rose Garden ceremony and made the following statement:
“Gun violence is plaguing our nation. We stand with all parents who just want our kids to be safe and are looking to our government and elected officials for leadership and action. The creation of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention makes a significant commitment to address this growing epidemic. We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for recognizing the urgent need to bring a holistic, centralized approach to engaging across the government on this pressing issue.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates that gun violence prevention can and must be a priority for our government. The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention will work on this central issue day-in and day-out, coordinating across federal agencies and community leaders to bring to bear the types of comprehensive, non-partisan solutions and support resources that are necessary to keep all Americans safe.
“Sitting in the Rose Garden today, alongside countless survivors and advocates that have dedicated their life’s mission to delivering freedom from fear and violence, is bittersweet. Hearing President Biden speak of Sandy Hook and so many tragedies since touches my heart, as I know none of us are alone in pushing forward for change that will save lives.
“Today’s announcement does not change our history, but it can change our future. We must never stop moving forward, with purpose through our pain. We will continue to urge our leaders to seize the moment to act to protect our children and communities, including through expanded background checks, temporary transfer laws, and school violence prevention programs. We are committed to working with this new office and elected leaders at all levels of government and on both sides of the aisle to prioritize the safety of our children and the prevention of further gun violence.”
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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