NEWTOWN, Conn. — Over the weekend, 15 people were killed and 60 people were injured by mass shootings across the country. These shootings come on the heels of the mass shootings at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 1, 2022, the Robb Elementary School tragedy on May 24, 2022 and the mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket on May 14, 2022. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. is averaging more than one mass shooting per day: more than 200 so far this year.
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 are heavy for the families and friends of the victims of these latest mass shootings. Once again, our country is collectively mourning for lives taken by gun violence. Beneath the pain is our fear. Fear for our own loved ones and ourselves. Fear that when we send our kids to school in the morning they won’t come home. Fear that when we kiss a spouse or partner good-bye as they head off to work, it will be the last time. Fear that when our families attend religious services, go to concerts, clubs or even the grocery store, they will fall victim to a mass shooting.
“Our national pain and fear must embolden our resolve to overcome the scourge of gun violence. We must reject the urge to accept that gun violence is inevitable because we know that it is, in fact, preventable.
“Undisputed research proves that gun violence prevention programs and policies can save lives. Simple actions like background checks for all gun sales, extreme risk protection orders, and safe storage policies are proven to save lives and are waiting for legislators to pass now.
“The greatest way we can honor all of the victims of mass shootings is to take action to save lives — so that no other families suffer the horrific pain of having a loved one ripped away by gun violence. Sensible bipartisan gun safety legislation is waiting to be passed, while precious lives continue to be taken from us. We must demand that Congress take immediate action to pass pending legislation to help end gun violence now.”
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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.
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Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646.761.5579