Newtown, CT — On Saturday, August 31, seven people died and 22 were injured when a 36-year-old man opened fire with an assault rifle in Odessa, Texas. The victims range in age from 15-57.
In response to this tragedy, Sandy Hook Promise issue the following statement:
“My heart aches as we continue to see communities torn apart by mass shootings. I implore our elected officials from both sides of the aisle to collaborate and create the real change our country needs so that we can prevent these senseless deaths from happening,” said 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. “We know that educating youth and adults to ‘know the signs’ of potential gun violence can prevent tragedies like these from happening, but our vigilance must be supported by effective and comprehensive legislative action that prevents individuals who may harm themselves or others from having access to firearms, including Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Universal Background Checks. If Universal Background Checks were federally required for all gun purchases, this tragedy and others like it may have been averted. ”
To date, more than 7.5 million people nationwide have been trained in Sandy Hook Promise’s proven Know the Signs programs that focus on gun violence prevention 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 programs, Sandy Hook Promise has averted multiple school shooting plots, teen suicides, and countless other acts of violence.
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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 can 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. Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org.