NEWTOWN, Conn. — Yesterday, at least six people were injured at a school shooting in Oakland, California. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. is averaging more than one mass shooting per day; more than 300 so far 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 of this latest school shooting on the King estate Campus in Oakland. Once again, parents frantically rushed to a school searching for their children, praying that they escaped the latest school shooting unharmed.
“We must respond to this horrific act of violence by strengthening our resolve to overcome the scourge of gun violence. We must not accept that gun violence is inevitable.
“Undisputed research proves that community awareness of warning signs and understanding of how to effectively intervene, along with sensible gun safety policy, can save lives.
“We must take collective action to protect our kids, so that no other community suffers from school shootings. We must demand that elected officials take immediate action to pass legislation to end gun violence now.”
###
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