NEWTOWN, Conn. — Yesterday, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee advanced two bills that would help curb gun violence and support victims and their families. The first would limit access to assault weapons (H.R. 1808), and the second would increase accountability for the gun industry by allowing victims of gun violence to challenge problematic practices and actions in court (H.R. 2814). The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee also held a hearing on protecting communities from mass shootings, specifically related to the mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. 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 on December 14, 2012, issued the following statement in response:
“We appreciate the House committee’s efforts to reduce mass shootings and save lives by limiting access to highly lethal weapons and also giving victims and families the ability to challenge gun industry practices in court. Additionally, we are grateful for the Senate’s hearing on how we can protect communities from mass shootings. Like many parents and community members across the country, we are concerned about the use of weapons of war in mass shootings, including the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and we are eager to see action on civilian access to military weapons like these.
“We remain committed to working together to advance bipartisan legislation. The overwhelming majority of voters support sensible gun policy reforms. We encourage members of the House and Senate to find common ground so that Congressional action can most effectively save more lives.”
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) 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 level 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.
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