Newtown, CT — With yet another tragic weekend of mass shootings, including those covered by the media in St. Paul and Chicago, 2021 continues to be the deadliest year for gun violence ever. Since January, more than 4,400 children have been killed or injured by guns, including among the nearly 67,000 victims nationwide. There have been more than 100 school shootings this year. And the U.S. is now averaging 50 mass shootings every month — nearly two every day. Many of these tragedies don’t make the news, but could have been prevented.
In response to this alarming and devastating trend, Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy issued the following statement:
“Seeing the unprecedented levels of gun violence happening every week, wounding and killing children, tearing apart families, and the limitless ripple effects of misery and trauma this senseless violence creates in our communities — all without any legislative action to end it — is appalling. This is an ever-growing public health epidemic that demands our attention now. Congress has an opportunity to begin to address this crisis by making critical investments to keep kids and adults safe in their communities. I urge our federal policymakers to take action now and support the $5 billion investment in community violence intervention strategies in the budget reconciliation process. We must act now to advance solutions that can protect our communities.”
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About Sandy Hook Promise
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its life-saving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. Through nonpartisan policy and partnerships, SHP advances gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education at the state and federal levels that protect all children from gun violence in their schools, homes, and communities. 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, Senior Director, Communications, Sandy Hook Promise | [email protected] | 646-761-5579