NEWTOWN, Conn. — On Saturday, three people were killed and four were injured in a mass shooting in Los Angeles. According to the Gun Violence Archive there have been 49 mass shootings this month, including six mass shootings this weekend (January 28 and January 29) in California and five other states.
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 heavy for the families and loved ones of the three people murdered, and we send healing energy to the four people injured in the latest tragedy in Los Angeles. While the latest Los Angeles shooting made national news, we have not seen similar coverage of the weekend’s other mass shootings, which happened in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
“Mass shootings have become so commonplace in our country that we, as a nation, barely take notice. Gun violence is an epidemic, and the media and public officials must address gun violence with the same approach as we address other public health epidemics, such as COVID. Media coverage of mass shootings and gun violence should put the incident in context and inform audiences of how we can stop the epidemic. Public officials must respond to the gun violence epidemic by implementing policies that support communities while also addressing national barriers to ending gun violence.
“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 individual and collective 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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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:
Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579