NEWTOWN, Conn. — Today, the mayor of Memphis, Tenn. announced that four people were killed and three people injured by a 19-year-old man. The man began his killing spree at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, when he randomly shot and killed his first victim. Police began a citywide manhunt later in the day, when the shooter broadcast one of his attacks on Facebook Live. There already have been more than 470 mass shootings this year.
In response to the latest tragedy, 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 in Memphis. Every mass shooting stirs emotions of grief and fear. With each act of random violence, we worry anew that when we and our families go about the ordinary activities of our daily lives, we risk death. We worry that when our family members hop in the car to go to work, attend religious services, go to concerts or even the grocery store, they won’t come home. As our children resume the early days of school, we fear for their lives — bracing for the news of the next school shooting and praying that our children will be spared.
“Our grief and fear must inspire us to take action to overcome the epidemic of gun violence. We must reject the notion that gun violence is inevitable because we know with absolute certainty that it is preventable.
“Undisputed research proves that gun violence prevention programs and policies can save lives. Simple actions like background checks for all gun sales, magazine limits for firearms and extreme risk protection orders are proven to save lives. Sandy Hook Promise’s ‘Know the Signs’ prevention programs teach students, educators, parents, and communities to recognize the warning signs of someone at risk of committing an act of violence — against others or themselves — and gives them the tools to take immediate action to get help. These programs, which are free to schools, give communities the tools they need to prevent school shootings and gun violence.
“We must honor all of the victims of gun violence with collective action to save lives — so that no other families suffer the horrendous pain of having a loved one taken away by gun violence. We must demand that public officials take immediate action to implement policies and programs 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