Sandy Hook Promise Issues Statements on the Shooting
The organization, formed in response to the tragic mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school in 2012, extends heartfelt condolences to the people of Maine in light of the recent statements released on Thursday.
Understanding the profound and devastating impact that shootings like these have on a community, Nicole Hockley, co-founder, and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, who tragically lost her own son Dylan at Sandy Hook, expresses deep sorrow for the people of Lewiston. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all those who have had to endure the consequences of this tragic and unforgivable event. It breaks our hearts to think that families are now left in lockdown, struggling to come to terms with this news and facing the difficult task of explaining to their children why their normal school day cannot resume.”
Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, whose son Daniel was killed in the 2012 shooting, remarks on the choice of weapons used by the shooter, saying, “Once again, a shooter has chosen semi-automatic rifles, the preferred weapons of mass shooters, to indiscriminately take innocent lives. The recent events in Lewiston highlight the urgent need for Maine to implement crucial gun safety laws, including regulations on large capacity, semi-automatic weapons, expanded background checks, and strong temporary transfer laws that allow law enforcement to disarm individuals deemed dangerous. It is essential to close these gaps and strengthen public policies aimed at preventing gun violence.”