NEWTOWN, CT — Sandy Hook Promise Co-Founders Mark Barden and Nicole Hockley stood with President Joseph Biden today as he announced stronger regulations to rein in the proliferation of ghost guns and put forward a new nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which is responsible for enforcing the nation’s gun laws.
Ghost guns, which can be built at home through kits available online, are especially dangerous because they are accessible to people who are prohibited from purchasing firearms, including minors. These types of guns have already been used in school shootings, including the tragedy three years ago in Santa Clarita where a 16-year-old student using a ghost gun killed two of his classmates and injured several others. Since November, at least four school shootings have involved a ghost gun.
In response to President Biden’s actions, Mark Barden, co-founder, and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy issued the following statement:
“The Biden administration is taking a strong step forward to protect kids from gun violence by regulating ghost guns like all other firearms under the jurisdiction of the ATF. It’s been nearly 10 years since my sweet little Daniel was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and there is still so much to be done to keep our children safe from gun violence. Today’s announcements are an important step forward in keeping guns out of the hands of people who are prohibited from owning them. We appreciate the administration’s efforts to continue to ensure our gun laws are properly enforced.”
Nicole Hockley, co-founder, and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy also issued the following statement:
“With more guns in homes than ever before, no community is immune to gun violence. It’s more important than ever that we have strong leadership to protect our children and communities, and to help put an end to the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our nation. Today, President Biden showed that kind of leadership, and I applaud his actions. I hope that leaders from both parties follow his example. Keeping our children safe from gun violence should not be a partisan issue.”
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About the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund:
The Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) Action Fund 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 levels 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