NEWTOWN, Conn. — Yesterday, eight people were killed and another seven were injured in a mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, with victims as young as five years old. According to the Gun Violence Archive there have been 199 mass shootings in 2023 – more mass shootings than days in this year – and more than 300 children have been killed or injured.
In response, 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 with the loved ones of the victims and survivors of this latest tragedy. There are no words to express the grief and anguish of trauma like this. And none that can accurately convey the fury and disgust for the lack of action to end this epidemic.
“Hospitals, gas stations, malls, prom parties, homes, street corners — mass shootings are so consistent now that we, as a nation, have seemingly accepted this as ‘normal’ life in America. We must not let the pain and immensity of the problem numb us into complacency and resignation.
“We all have a role to play. Learn the warning signs. Get help when you see someone who may be in crisis and considering harming themselves or others. Funnel your fear and worry into action: advocate for state and federal policies that are proven to prevent gun violence. Do something today to prevent more tragedy.”
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. Through nonpartisan policy and partnerships, SHP advances gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education at the state and federal levels that protect all children from gun violence in their schools, homes, and communities. 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