Newtown, CT — Yesterday, the Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center published its annual “Mass Attacks in Public Spaces” report studying 27 attacks in schools, places of worship, and workplaces. The findings reinforce the fact that gun violence can be prevented by recognizing at-risk behaviors and taking action to intervene. In almost all cases studied, the perpetrators made overt threats and in more than 75% of the cases, someone else had noticed troubling signs.
In response, Sandy Hook Promise issued the following statement:
“The Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center’s latest report on mass attacks supports what we know to be true – that gun violence is preventable when we ‘know the signs’,” 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. “The more we learn about the behaviors that correlate to increased potential for violence, stay vigilant, and ‘say something’ when we see warning signs or threats, the more tragedies we can intervene on and the more lives we can save. Our safety ultimately lies in our commitment to protecting one another.”
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 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 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.