'How Many More Kids Have To Die': Sandy Hook Survivors, Lawmakers Call For Action

CONNECTICUT — The Robb Elementary School shooting that left 19 children and two adults dead in Texas opened wounds that never fully healed in Connecticut. It also prompted questions from gun control advocates, who asked how many dead children will it take before Congress tries to solve the epidemic.

Mary Ann Jacob was school librarian at Sandy Hook Elementary School the day a gunman stormed the building, killing 20 children and six educators.

“I was huddled in a closet with 18 9-year-olds and three of my colleagues that day when gunfire shattered the peace at Sandy Hook School,” Jacobs said at a news conference. “Yesterday, I was right back in that closet.”

People deserve to live without fear when they go to school, a grocery store or their place of work, she said.

“How many more kids have to die in our schools before our federal lawmakers will act,” she asked.

Connecticut passed expansive bipartisan gun control legislation in 2013 following the Sandy Hook shooting. The law expanded the state’s assault weapon ban, established a long gun certificate and banned the sale and transfer of high-capacity magazines. It also tightened rules related to mental health and guns and background checks.

“If you see something, say something and do something, and that’s what the people of Connecticut have done,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.

The AR-15 rifle that was used in the recent Buffalo grocery store mass shooting can’t be purchased in Connecticut, Lamont said.

“We can make a difference, but we really need the federal government to look up and see what has worked in Connecticut,” he said.

“Every day that goes by without passing common sense gun legislation is another day of lives lost,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said. “And I'm sorry, but none of us want to hear condolences from NRA-supported senators.”

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Newtown Action Alliance Chairwoman Po Murray said the country is at the 10-yard line to get gun control legislation passed, and that two more senators are needed to end the filibuster rule.

Congresswoman Jahana Hayes said she felt helpless as a parent and teacher after the Sandy Hook shooting to answer the questions children have about mass shootings and what adults are trying to do to prevent them. Now, she feels equally helpless as a member of Congress who is waiting for the Senate to take up any bill that touches on guns.

“Other countries have mental health issues, other countries have gun violence issues, but other countries act decisively at the moment where anything happened and ensure that it never happens again,” Hayes said.

Hayes introduced legislation that would define and collect data on the federal level about school shootings.

“Even that was voted against by my Republican colleagues,” she said. “Legislation for safe gun storage for responsible gun ownership. It's like we can't have any conversation.”

Congressman John Larson called on the Senate to end its filibuster rules so that bills that passed the House can get a Senate vote.

“The biggest threat to our democratic republican isn’t Russia or China, it’s not homegrown terrorism or terrorism around the world,” Larson said. “It's when the duly elected people do not carry out goals and commitments they made to the people they are sworn to serve.”

Gun violence impacts communities every day, even beyond school shootings. More resources are needed to help with the lifelong trauma survivors have to deal with, said Andrew Woods, executive director of Hartford Communities That Care.

“The aftermath is life long,” Woods said. “Just as for any community that is impacted by gun violence, no one gets past this. No one survives the horror of the trauma, the grief.”