Connecticut

Gun Safety Advocates Take Message to Washington

Nearly six years after the Sandy Hook school shooting, gun safety advocates are still looking for ways to prevent gun violence.

December 14 will mark six years since 20 first-graders and six adult staff were shot and killed inside Sandy Hook Elementary School.

“During the last six years there have been more than 600,000 gun deaths and injuries, and more than 1,800 mass shooting incidents. This is just a small fraction of the grief we are seeing across this nation,” said Po Murray of the Newtown Action Alliance.

On Thursday representatives from the Newtown Action Alliance, lawmakers and victims of gun violence from across the country rallied for stricter national gun laws at the nation’s capital.

“If we can put a man on the moon we can darn well figure out how to have our children safe at school, on the playground, at work, at country music concerts, in bars and at home,” said Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.)

Among those present, parents of Ethan Song, the Guilford teen who accidentally shot and killed himself last January. They said they attended to honor their son through action.

After the Democrats won the U.S. House of Representatives last month, Democrats and gun control groups now feel they have the momentum to pass changes to the law – like universal background checks and bans on 3D-printed guns.

“We have never been closer to meaningful gun reform in this country,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

“We will get a bill passed through the House of Representatives,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)

The pair promised to push change through come January.

Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, released a statement in response to the renewed push that read, in part:

"While everyone wants society to be safe from any type of violent crime, there was virtually nothing in today's press conference that addressed criminals who commit actual crimes with firearms and increasing penalties."

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