"It doesn't affect the second amendment [the right of individuals to keep and bear arms] to have criminal background checks for every single gun sale, to put a stop to illegal trafficking in weapons," Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, representing the district the Sandy Hook shootings took place in, said Wednesday and asked the US Congress to show the courage to pass gun reform.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal called on Congress to memorialize the victims of gun violence in the United States by enacting background checks and other "common sense measures that are supported by the overwhelming majority of the American people, including the majority of gun owners."
Up to 95 percent of Americans and 92 percent of gun owners support keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people, according to the chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance and Newtown Foundation Po Murray. Murray helped organize a group of activists from 18 states to demand action from Congress to enact stricter background checks on individuals, purchasing guns.
On December 14, 2012 twenty children and six adult staff members were killed by 20 year old gunman Adam Lanza. Despite having diagnosed psychological problems, Lanza was allowed to purchase multiple semiautomatic weapons, a number of which he brought to Sandy Hook and used in the shooting.
Since the incident in 2012, there have been 95 school shootings, according to the Newtown Alliance.
