NEWTOWN, Conn. – Three people died and at least 15 others were wounded in a shooting in Stockton, Alabama on Saturday night during a May Day celebration with more than 1,000 people in attendance. An event that has brought the Stockton community together annually since the 1970s for an evening of food and fun has never seen this kind of tragedy, and, sadly, this year it was not immune to the growing plight of gun violence plaguing the U.S.
This shooting marks just one of more than 150 mass shootings this year alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Currently Alabama lacks sensible gun safety laws that have been shown to help prevent violence.
In response, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“My heart breaks for the families whose loved ones were taken in another senseless act of violence during an event meant to bring their community together in celebration. I mourn with the mothers whose babies didn’t make it home for Mother’s Day over the weekend, and for the survivors who will carry the trauma of these events with them.”
“As the weather warms and similar events are held across the country, I fear we will continue to see these tragedies unfold unless serious action is taken. From local grassroots organizing to federal legislative intervention, there are actions we can take right now to prevent further pain and anguish. Learn the warning signs that often precede gun violence. Advocate for sensible policies that support safe firearm access like secure storage and expanding background checks on all gun purchases. We must work together to end this epidemic.”
Sandy Hook Promise urges all adults to advocate for sensible policy that can prevent gun violence and save lives. To learn more about how you can help, visit: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org///take-action/get-involved/.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. 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.
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Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579