NEWTOWN, Conn. — Yesterday, six people were killed and more than two dozen were injured when a shooter opened fire shortly after a Fourth of July parade stepped off in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb. There were mass shootings in 10 states over the holiday weekend, part of the gun violence epidemic taking a record toll, according to the Gun Violence Archive. So far this year, there have been about 250 mass shootings.
In response to the latest tragedies, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“Our hearts bleed for the families and friends of the victims of these latest mass shootings. Families that set out to celebrate the anniversary of our independence, instead were struck down by the American epidemic that seems to worsen with each day: gun violence. We are burdened with the weight of the reality that our families are at risk of gun violence — in every community and in our everyday lives.
“Our heavy hearts must strengthen our resolve to end this epidemic. We must reject the notion that it is inevitable because we know that gun violence is preventable.
“Undisputed research proves that prevention programs and sensible gun reform policies can — and do — work. Simple actions like background checks for all gun sales, magazine limits for firearms, and extreme risk protection orders are proven to save lives and are waiting for legislators to pass. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will help, but we must do more. We can and should honor all of the victims of gun violence by passing common-sense policies that both save lives and protect the second amendment.
“Summer is the deadliest season for gun violence. That’s why we must keep taking actions in our communities to intervene before violence occurs and demand our state and federal legislators pass policies to stop the epidemic of violence.”
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Loretta Kane | [email protected] | 917-410-7242