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Sandy Hook Promise statement on New Mexico mass shooting

NEWTOWN, Conn. — On Monday, three people were killed and seven were injured in a mass shooting by a high school teen in Farmington, New Mexico. According to the Gun Violence Archive there have been 225 mass shootings (four or more killed or injured, excluding the shooter) on day number 137 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 broken for the families and loved ones of the victims in the latest mass shooting tragedy in Farmington, New Mexico. And we are also frustrated and angry because gun violence rages throughout the country unabated.

“Mass shootings are now a near-daily routine in our nation. Too many people are ignoring the fact that we are in the midst of the deadliest epidemic ever, the gun violence epidemic. Public officials must address gun violence with the same urgency and focus as they have other public health epidemics. Our elected officials must implement policies that support communities while also addressing national barriers to ending gun violence.

“Mass shootings are not inevitable. 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 temporary transfer 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 don’t need any more empty promises and symbolic actions—we need real solutions 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