NEWTOWN, Conn. – Eleven people were injured after gunshots broke out at the popular tourist destination of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. After officers responded to a disturbance involving multiple people, one of those involved in the incident began firing a weapon. A responding officer shot and killed one person “based on the immediate threat.” The deceased person has been identified as an 18-year-old from South Carolina.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 8 mass shootings in South Carolina since the start of 2024. Additionally, South Carolina’s overall gun death rate increased 37% between 2013 and 2022, based on most recent available finalized data from CDC. There were 1,105 gun deaths in the state in 2022.
In response to this attack, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“What does it say about us as a nation when it’s no longer safe to take your family to a vacation destination without the fear of being injured or killed in a mass shooting? It’s an awful reality, but things don’t have to be this way. There is so much we can do to prevent tragedies like these, without infringing our constitutional right to legally own firearms. When we address the root causes of violence and teach everyone how to recognize the warning signs, we can save lives.
“We stand with those who were injured and must now recover from this incident. Now is the time to take action to prevent future tragedies.
“South Carolina does not have legislation regarding safe firearm access or temporary transfer orders, which are proven to save lives by keeping guns out of the hands of at-risk individuals. Laws such as these promote safe and responsible gun ownership that keeps people safe. We call on South Carolina voters and legislators to pass life-saving bills like these and build a safer future for all.”
For more information about proven violence prevention programs, resources to help communities heal from a tragedy, and information about ways to support life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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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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