DeLauro Statement on the Six Month Anniversary of Newtown Shooting

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) issued thefollowing statement today marking the six month anniversary of the tragicshooting in Newtown, Connecticut:

"Six months later, our hearts still ache for the six adultsand twenty children murdered in cold blood. A small-town community wasdevastated, yet those families who lost loved ones are still waiting forCongress to act. That is shameful.

"We have the highest rate of gun deaths per year in theindustrialized world. 30,000 deaths and almost 75,000 injuries are caused byguns every year. An average of eight children and teens are killed by guns inAmerica, every single day. And over 4,500 Americans have been killed by gun violencein the past six months. All those families are waiting for Congress to act aswell.

"Congress has to move forward in a common-sense, responsiblefashion to prevent gun violence in America. This is something the Americanpeople overwhelmingly support, and something the American people expect fromus.

"We know for a fact that commonsense, responsible policieslike comprehensive background checks make a difference. One recent studyfound that the ten states with the weakest gun laws collectively suffer from alevel of gun violence that is more than twice as high as the ten states withthe strongest gun laws.

"Connecticut has stepped up to the plate, passing acomprehensive gun violence prevention bill that strengthens gun laws throughoutour state. Congress should follow their example. The longer we keep waiting,the more innocent victims will die, and the more senseless tragedies we willhave to endure."