Newtown, CT — This week, five people were murdered in a mass shooting in Rock Hill, South Carolina, including two children under age 10. This is the second mass shooting in a week, reinforcing a deadly trend of increasing gun violence sweeping the nation.
In response to this tragedy, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“The lives taken by gun violence are more than just a number or a statistic. The Lesslie and Lewis families will now have to endure birthdays lost, graduations missed, and countless holidays that are never quite the same. This type of relentless, excruciating pain and loss should not be normal, especially when Congress has multiple solutions right in front of them.”
Gun violence and mass shootings continue to rise nationwide, along with record-breaking gun sales. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, gun deaths have hit historic levels and more than 300,000 guns have been purchased without a background check. The White House announced Executive Actions yesterday to help address the epidemic of gun violence plaguing the nation. Bipartisan measures by Congress must support these critical first steps.
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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. Learn more at www.sandyhookpromise.org
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Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646.761.5579