President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other top Democrat lawmakers called for gun control on the eleventh anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Thursday.
Adam Lanza, 20, shot and killed 26 people at the Newtown, Connecticut, school on December 14, 2012. Twenty of the victims were six and seven-year-old children, the others were adult school staff.
Lanza had fatally shot his mother before going to the school and committed suicide at the scene by shooting himself in the head in one of the classrooms. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats marked the 11th anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting by calling for more strict gun laws. pic.twitter.com/hNWRm6YBNt
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) December 14, 2023
"Eleven years ago, the souths of Newtown, Connecticut, and the nation were pierced forever when twenty-six lives were stolen at Sandy Hook Elementary School by a lone shooter," Biden posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "Today, Jill and I are praying for the families and survivors in the Newtown community." Eleven years ago, the souls of Newtown, Connecticut, and the nation were pierced forever when twenty-six lives were stolen at Sandy Hook Elementary School by a lone shooter.
Today, Jill and I are praying for the families and survivors in the Newtown community.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 14, 2023
Harris echoed the president's sentiment, adding that "Together, we must call on Congress and state legislators to take action. Ban assault weapons, make background checks universal, and enact red flag laws. These solutions are reasonable, they are necessary, and they will save lives." Our hearts are heavy as we remember the 20 first graders and six educators who were killed with a weapon of war at Sandy Hook Elementary 11 years ago today.
In the years since, gun violence has become the number one killer of our children. We must change that.
Together, we must…
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) December 14, 2023
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer offered a similar statement.
Schumer began, "11 years ago—26 kids and educators were killed in a horrific act of gun violence at Sandy Hook Elementary," he continued, "We keep them and their families in our hearts" 11 years ago—26 kids and educators were killed in a horrific act of gun violence at Sandy Hook Elementary
We keep them and their families in our hearts
We took to the floor again last week to pass the Assault Weapons Ban, but the GOP blocked it
We won't stop working to pass it
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 14, 2023
"We took to the floor again last week to pass the Assault Weapons Ban, but the GOP blocked it," the senator added. "We won't stop working to pass it."
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy wrote, "I beg you - commit yourself to the cause of creating a nation where this never ever happens again." 11 years ago this morning, 20 sets of parents kissed their first graders goodbye as they dropped them off for school. It was the last time they would see their children alive.
I beg you - commit yourself to the cause of creating a nation where this never ever happens again. pic.twitter.com/PYzDrMt30i
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 14, 2023
Sen. Bernie Sanders went after the National Rifle Association directly.
"Congress must take on the NRA and pass life-saving gun safety legislation NOW," Sanders posted. Today, we remember the 20 children and six educators who were killed 11 years ago in the horrific mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. No family should ever face that unimaginable loss.
Congress must take on the NRA and pass life-saving gun safety legislation NOW.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 15, 2023
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi wrote, "we must never rest until every child is free from the fear of gun violence." As America's gun epidemic continues to shatter communities every day, we must never rest until every child is free from the fear of gun violence.
Republicans must join Democrats to enact gun violence prevention legislation that will save lives and finally end this crisis.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 14, 2023
"Republicans must join Democrats to enact gun violence prevention legislation that will save lives and finally end this crisis," Pelosi added.
