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Sandy Hook Promise statement on mass shooting at El Paso mall

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Last night, one person was killed and three were injured in a mass shooting at a mall in El Paso, Texas nearby where the 2019 mass shooting took place killing 23 and injuring another 23 people. According to the Gun Violence Archive there have been six deaths and 72 injuries due to mass shootings in 2023.

In response, Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:

“Our hearts are heavy for the families and loved ones of the victim, and we send healing to the three people injured in the latest tragedy in El Paso. We are also frustrated and angry that we’re experiencing yet another deadly year of gun violence.

“Mass shootings have become routine in our country; we, as a nation, barely take notice. We are in the midst of the deadliest epidemic ever, the gun violence epidemic. Public officials and the media must address gun violence with the same approach as other public health epidemics, such as COVID. Public officials must implement policies that support communities while also addressing national barriers to ending gun violence. Media coverage must put mass shootings and gun violence in context and inform audiences of how we can stop the epidemic.

“We know how to stop mass shootings. Undisputed research proves that gun violence is preventable when we know the warning signs and take action to get help. Simple policy actions like background checks for all gun sales, secure storage, magazine limits for firearms and extreme risk protection orders are proven to save lives and are remedies legislators can and must pass immediately. We are outraged by the refusal of public officials to pass and implement these policies.

“We must honor every victim by taking action to help end gun violence. We must use our voices to demand that America treat its most deadly epidemic — gun violence — now.”

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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. 

Media Contact: 

Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579