FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sandy Hook Promise Statement on Bump Stock Ban
Newtown, CT – December 19, 2018 – Yesterday, the Trump administration announced a new federal regulation that will go into effect in late March, making it illegal to own bump stocks (aka slide fire devices) that enable semi-automatic weapons to fire rounds faster. This accessory was responsible for more than 50 deaths in the 2017 Las Vegas massacre.
In response to the bump stock ban, Sandy Hook Promise, the leading gun violence prevention organization, issued the following statement:
“We applaud the Administration for taking this important step to minimize the potential impact of an active shooter situation,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. “We also call upon Congress and the White House to place more focused, bipartisan attention on passing gun violence prevention legislation to stop gun violence before it can happen, by passing bipartisan policy including Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and Universal Background Checks. We know that gun violence is preventable when we Know the Signs and these necessary regulations can further the safety of our communities and schools,” he continued.
To date, more than 5.5 million people have been trained in Sandy Hook Promise’s proven Know the Signs programs that focus on prevention to help end the epidemic of gun violence by training youth and adults how to identify at-risk behavior and intervene to get help before a tragedy can occur. Through these no-cost signature programs, Sandy Hook Promise has averted multiple school shooting plots, several teen suicides, and countless other acts of violence.
About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. 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. SHP’s mission is to prevent gun violence and other forms of violence and victimization BEFORE they happen by creating a culture of engaged youth and adults committed to identifying, intervening, and getting help for individuals who might be at risk of hurting themselves or others. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible program and policy solutions that address the “human-side” of gun violence by preventing individuals from ever getting to the point of picking up a firearm to hurt themselves or others. Our words, actions and impact nationwide are intended to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. For more information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org or call 203-304-9780.
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Stephanie Morris: [email protected] | 646-650-5005