Sandy Hook Victims Need To Be Remembered

April 14 marks the four-month anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which was the subject of a 60 Minutes segment last Sunday titled “12/14.” That’s how the families of the victims refer to the day, according to Scott Pelley, who interviewed several of the parents who lost children on that date. Although the parents who spoke in response to Pelley’s questions showed remarkable restraint, anyone could see and hear and feel their grief, so profound it will remain with them the rest of their lives. The mothers and fathers who spoke want all Americans to remember their lost children and to honor them by doing something in their communities across the country to reduce the chances of another such tragedy. That is the purpose of this brief essay.

The CBS report summarized the efforts of the Newtown families in the
Connecticut legislature to effect a change in their state. They were successful
in four areas: “The bill strengthens an existing ban on semiautomatic assault rifles, limits the capacity of ammo magazines, and requires background checks for all weapon sales, including at gun shows. It would also establish the nation's first statewide registry for people convicted of crimes involving dangerous weapons. Access to the registry would be available only to law enforcement.”  (USAToday, April 4, 2013) Gov. Malloy was shown signing such legislation into law this month.

Two other states, Colorado and Maryland, have also acted to pass similar
legislation. These are the bare facts of the 60 Minutes report, which can be read but must be viewed online to experience its poignant message. The words and deeds of the President and Vice-President since the shootings give us hope that at least as much will be accomplished on a national level as has been achieved in three states so far.The efforts of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has committed millions of his own money to support candidates who will work for stricter gun control laws, are laudable.

Politics aside, however, my hope is that the memory of the Sandy Hook children and adults will not fade as time passes and that their families achieve as much success in Washington, D.C. as they did in Connecticut in their attempt to prevent the next great tragedy.