Newtown marks 6 months since school massacre

June 14, 2013 @ 1:05 pm


Carlee Soto, front, and Jillian Soto, sisters of slain teacher Victoria Soto, embrace during a ceremony on the six-month anniversary honoring the 20 children and six adults gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012 in Newtown, Conn., Friday, June 14, 2013. Newtown held a moment of silence Friday for the victims of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on gun control, with the reading of names of thousands of victims of gun violence. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) | Zoom
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NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) - The town where 20 children and six educators were massacred in December went silent for a moment Friday, six months later, at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on weapons control, with the reading of names of thousands of victims of gun violence.

The mood of the six-month marker was decidedly more political than private, with a group called Mayors Against Illegal Guns holding events in 10 states calling for lawmakers to expand background checks and urging senators who opposed the bill to reconsider.

Two sisters of slain teacher Victoria Soto addressed a crowd gathered at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown for a 26-second moment of silence, honoring the 20 children and six adults gunned down at the school on Dec. 14.

"This pain is excruciating and unbearable, but thanks to people like you, that come out and support us, we are able to get through this," said Carlee Soto, who hugged and held hands with her sister Jillian before taking the stage.

The event then transitioned to the reading of the names of more than 5,000 Americans killed with guns since the tragedy in Newtown. The reading of names was expected to take 12 hours.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which organized the event in Newtown, also launched a bus tour that will travel to 25 states over 100 days to build support for legislation to expand background checks for gun buyers. Such legislation failed in the Senate in April, and there are no indications it has gained traction over concerns about protecting gun rights.

The gunman in Newtown killed his mother and the 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School with a semiautomatic rifle, then committed suicide as police arrived. The shooting led some relatives of victims to campaign for tougher gun laws, including some who were in Washington this week lobbying lawmakers for action.

Jillian and Carlee Soto met with President Barack Obama as they campaigned for gun control.

"He just told us to have faith," said Jillian Soto, 24. "It isn't something that happens overnight. It's something that you have to continue to fight for. Within good time we will have this passed and we will have change."

Carlee Soto, who is 20, said they got back from Washington at 2 a.m. She said that the president and vice president spoke of waging a long battle and that she plans to continue her efforts, as well.

"It's a very tough battle to fight," she said. "It's very frustrating, but knowing I'm doing this for my sister and the other 25 and everyone else that's been affected by gun violence, it's worth it."

Teresa Rousseau, whose daughter Lauren was among the six educators killed at Sandy Hook, also met with the president this week. She said at first she wondered how she would survive, and now she knows she can and feels empowered as she campaigns for tougher gun laws.

"I think it's time the average American gets a little louder in what he has to say," Rousseau said.

Laura Miller was among many in the crowd wearing the school's green and white colors. She said that her son, a kindergartner, was unharmed but that his teacher was shot in the foot.

"I'm here for the people who were less fortunate than me," she said. "I think they're the bravest people in the world to be able to come out here and fight for change, and that's what we need to do. If more people come out, that's the only way anything is ever going to change."

The mayors group also held events in 10 states calling for lawmakers to expand background checks and urging senators who opposed the bill to reconsider. Those events, which include gun violence survivors and gun owners, were being in Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Suzanne Conway, 37, was among a handful of people who attended a rally in a Charlotte, N.C., park. The mother of four young children said the shooting compelled her to start a chapter of an anti-gun group, Moms Demand Action.

"Newtown hit me hard. I had to do something about it," she said. "People are not going to stop fighting. This is a very important issue."

In Indiana, about two dozen protesters gathered on the Monon Trail in Indianapolis and talked about pressing Indiana's congressional delegation to support background check legislation. Sen. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, supports the checks, but Sen. Dan Coats, a Republican, does not.

The protest, held in a liberal swath of Republican Rep. Susan Brooks' district, should be about laying continued pressure on lawmakers, said Peter Luster, Indiana state director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Lawmakers have daily calls with their staff to check in on what constituents are talking about, and they should hear about background checks constantly, he said.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who co-founded the mayors group, this week sent a letter asking donors not to support Democratic senators who opposed the bill to expand background checks.

On the other side of the debate, the National Rifle Association is focusing on Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who co-sponsored the bill to expand background checks, with a TV ad urging viewers to phone Manchin's office and tell him "to honor his commitment to the 2nd Amendment." The NRA plans to spend $100,000 airing the ad in West Virginia markets over the next two weeks.

___

Associated Press writers Mitch Weiss in North Carolina and Tom LoBianco in Indiana contributed to this report.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (153)


  • Add A Comment

  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    We better
    December 14, 2012 7:02 am
    Ban and outlaw school, movie theaters and malls because people are always seeming to get killed their. Oh, don't forget bars, my friend was murdered at a bar a couple of weeks ago by a crazy person with a knife. It's not the crazy person's fault though right? It's gotta be the knife's fault.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    What was it John Curley and his ilk were saying just yesterday about the Portland Mall shooting? Some nonsense about how more guns would deter shootings?
    December 14, 2012 9:02 am
    Just wait. The RWNJ's will suggest that if only a few of these kindergartners had a concealed weapons permit and were adequately trained, well, they would have taken him down!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    20 kids were killed in China today
    December 14, 2012 9:07 am
    By a knife

    A lot were killed in Oklahoma by Fertilizer

    thousands are killed every year by cars

    Where is your outrage and call for a Ban for these items.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Not killed injured
    December 14, 2012 9:09 am
    it was 2010 that 20 were killed and 50 injured in China.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Gasoline is another tool that they use.
    December 14, 2012 7:18 pm
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Big Zipper wrote...
    point exactly....
    December 16, 2012 5:35 pm
    20 injured... not blown away
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CupofJoe wrote...
    Hayduke
    December 14, 2012 8:58 pm
    those with a different point of view would only suggest that you grow up. No need to get hissy and fly off the deep end every time a legitimate point is made.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    hayduke-not kindergardners, a few teachers. Idiot!
    December 15, 2012 9:47 am
    If you can get the guns from crinimals, tell me how.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    I am sure they meant ADULTS
    December 16, 2012 10:55 am
    you friggin dolt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    Hayduke.....You're an idiot.
    January 14, 2013 11:46 am
    Namer one conservative that has said arming kindergartners is an idea? You can't, because it never happen loser. You are part of the problem.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    SHUT UP.
    December 14, 2012 9:38 am
    to those of you making this political. SHUT. UP.

    kids were murdered today.

    classless jerks.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SledgeHammer wrote...
    FTW!
    December 14, 2012 4:59 pm
    Oly80, suck it friend. We know kids died... we need to talk about it. if you dont, st*u mate
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Oly80
    December 14, 2012 5:55 pm
    Politics is how we change things in the USA, so you can keep your censorship!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CupofJoe wrote...
    Chairman O,
    December 14, 2012 8:48 pm
    sadly, was the first to make it political with his "meaningful" comments.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    Rick W7PSK: You ever hear the saying, "Never bring a knife to a gun fight?"
    December 14, 2012 10:11 am
    There's a reason for that. Only an idiot would believe a knife can kill just as fast and as many as an automatic weapon. And any unskilled fool can pull a trigger.

    As for it being turned into a political issue: If not now, WHEN? Whenever these tragedies happen, the gun nuts always want others not to keep quiet about it. Apparently it's just too inconvenient to their POV. You would prefer that if it's discussed at all, it's not done right after a shooting. In other words, when no one's thinking about it, and they couldn't care less.

    Meanwhile, whenever a homeowner shoots an intruder in his home, they capitalize on that, don't they? I mean, RWNJ's would NEVER try capitalize on a tragedy, would they? (Bengazi, anyone?)

    These shootings are becoming more and more frequent; why shouldn't we have a rational debate about it?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chrisfrommv wrote...
    more Knee jerks
    December 14, 2012 5:03 pm
    Hayduk- and the leftist media will rarely tell the numbers of stories were people have used arms in legitimate self defense acts and lives saved there of... Your point? This needs to be talked about but not today. you could wait till we have all the facts. What I do know so far is is that this kid was mentally disabled (strike one) under 21 and in possession of hand guns (strike two) and on school property (strike three). This was not a person who killed while paying attention to any gun law and probably would have killed despite any gun laws you propose
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Big Zipper wrote...
    hang tight...
    December 16, 2012 5:39 pm
    he had a bushmaster ar15...designed in every way for one purpose. Mass killing of human beings. You can buy a similar gun now at your local wal-mart for around $500. This is a terrible home defense gun as the rounds put your neighbors in danger if used. We have the right to bear arms and that should never go away as a way to protect our homes. But.... had this killer used a shotgun we might have been able to stop him before he took so many innocent lives.
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  • Rick (4) wrote...
    @Hayduke
    December 15, 2012 7:29 am
    How has making drugs illegal stopped people who want to use drugs from getting illegal drugs. The same would be true if guns were made illegal.

    I will never support removing the 2nd amendment as it is is there for protecting our freedoms and to defend our freedom from evil people and government tyranny.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    banning guns at schools
    December 15, 2012 6:30 pm
    When will the genious that first banned guns at school step up and claim responsibility for this? in the past, many teachers carried, or had guns in class. They can't today, and so to make some safe, they (them and the children) are unprotected?... seems they got the opposite of what they intended with the ban in the first place. Since it didnt work, maybe they should lift that ban first?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    This is going to happen
    December 16, 2012 11:03 am
    time and time again, mark the words. Gun bans in schools don't work, the ground in full of freshly dug graves to prove the point. Why didn't the mass murderers go to a sportsman club or police station or gun store?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rikki Doxx wrote...
    Bloomie
    December 14, 2012 5:01 pm
    NYC mayor Bloomberg is demanding Obama do something. Hey Bloomie, get rid of guns in NYC first. Oh, they're already not allowed. My bad.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WT wrote...
    Sad but not surprised!
    December 14, 2012 5:45 pm
    Saddened But Not Surprised I was saddened to hear of the lost of life at Sandy Hook but I am not surprised. Why this should be thought of as Progress. I was not surprised because for years now children have been taught a world view that says that they are the product of mindless mutation and nothing more than advanced animals - descendant of monkeys. They have been taught that there are no moral absolutes and no God that determines moral absolutes. I don’t understand why then when some emotionally distraught individual acts out this world-view, devalues life and determining that there is no God to which he his ultimately responsible takes life from other and then himself that folks are surprised? Surely people are not thinking far enough in advance to see where this world-view leads or they would not be surprised. This young shooter was simply acting on his convictions—what he no doubt learned in school. I was not surprised because women are allowed to kill their unborn children why… why… why should we be surprised when a born child wants to kill his mother! Is it somehow less evil to kill your child that for your child to kill you? And, for the life of me I do not understand our president’s tearful presentation! I mean he voted twice for partial birth abortion where the baby is partially born and then with its head out of the birth canal has a pair of scissors inserted into the base of the skull and its brains sucked out. Heck, he even supported depriving life support for babies that survive an abortion because it was the intent of the mother that the child should die. I don’t understand his flip-flopping and why a shooting is a worse way for a person to die than having their brains sucked out. Why he should just send some Planned Parenthood employees over to counsel the moms and dads who have lost children to explain to them why they should not feel so badly. I am surprised and confused as to why Progressive who love this world view are surprised or even saddened. Is it now what they were shooting for? They may as well have pulled the trigger!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    He (Obama- as paid for democrat) hates blacks
    December 15, 2012 6:38 pm
    Thus he supports the dems effort to allow moms to continue killing as many off as possible. (FYI, abortions have killed many million black babies)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    The mother of the abortion machine,
    December 16, 2012 11:01 am
    Margaret Sanger, was a proponent of eugenics,the killing of the "unfit", including blacks. We can see he result of her handiwork today.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    WT
    December 16, 2012 10:57 am
    Plenty of evil has been done in the name of your god.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    As soon as I picked my kids up from school today,
    December 14, 2012 5:54 pm
    I hugged them so hard. I could not imagine the horror of getting that call. I wish I could take the pain away from those affected by this ahole. But for those using this as a gun grab device, would outlawing murder help you feel safer?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hectic wrote...
    Shut up
    December 14, 2012 5:55 pm
    If I hear one more person say, "Guns are not the problem", I'm going to steal one of the 200 million privately owned firearms in the United States, and shoot them in the foot.

    Everyone needs to google "Australian gun laws". They changed their laws after a mass shooting 20 years ago, and it worked. It can be done, Australia is proof. Anyone who says guns are not the problem is a fool.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    Already illegal
    December 14, 2012 6:09 pm
    Guns are not allowed to be carried outside the home in CT by anyone under 21. What proof?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Big Zipper wrote...
    but...
    December 16, 2012 5:47 pm
    they are cheap and prevalent. Like the assualt rifle used in the clackamas shootings. It was one of the kids friends guns....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    Guns
    December 14, 2012 6:12 pm
    are not the problem
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chrisfrommv wrote...
    Hectic-
    December 14, 2012 6:56 pm
    do a little more research before you speak... Homicides went up 3.9% and armed robberies 44% in the next year. Stalin and Hitler killed millions AFTER disarming them. (though I urge you not to take this comment too far with it's meaning. I am not implying anything other then the right to defend themselves was removed) Guns are not the problem... That's right I said it; i'll give you my address if you'd like.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hectic wrote...
    Why lie?
    December 15, 2012 5:04 am
    Oh please, the fact is, that since Australia's gun ban, violent crime has dropped exponentially, and they haven't had a mass murder in 20 years. It's pretty simple really, but ignorant people like you are willing to sacrifice innocent children in order to have your little guns, that you will NEVER use in self defense. btw, have you ever notice how all gun advocates are short, and have little members? Why is that?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    I see hectic ran out of argument
    December 15, 2012 6:00 am
    went to insults
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick (4) wrote...
    @Hectic
    December 15, 2012 6:47 am
    If if feel safer, you are free to move to Australia. Here in America, we carry guns and will continue to do so.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    Australia finally outlawed murder?
    December 15, 2012 6:50 am
    About time. If only the US would do the same...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bullyforyou wrote...
    well, mr limpdick
    December 15, 2012 11:57 am
    if you would do a little research you'd see that the crime rates in AUS are level from the buyback to now. and aussies didn't own guns on average anyways. fools like you who blame the gun are enabling the societal defects that produce these monsters. it's actually YOU who is the problem
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    @Rick W7
    December 15, 2012 2:55 pm
    Typical liberal. Lose the argument and start calling names. BTW - Hectic, we are not Australia, nor do any of us give a ratsass about what they do in other countries. This is America. We have plenty of gun laws. Unfortunately, The problem is, you can't legislate whack jobs. We need better MENTAL HEATH CARE & Oversight. Maybe OBAMACARE will provide better avenues for those who are walking on the edge? Although, I seriously doubt it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    Did Australia ban guns 20 years ago?
    December 15, 2012 6:41 pm
    nope, just like their violent crime rate is up. (perhaps you got it confused with the safety rating for crooks, because it's safer for them, as they usually don't get shot by their victims these days)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cigarillo wrote...
    @Hectic
    December 16, 2012 10:48 am
    Properly presented/twisted, the Australian situation may add a bit of weight to your justification for eliminating those icky guns, but you sort of ruined your standing as a contributor to the debate by lowering yourself to the tiny wiener thing. Hopefully, you give the same regard to the civic duty of voting as you do to informing yourself on the issue at hand.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cigarillo wrote...
    @Chris
    December 16, 2012 11:18 am
    Allow me to preface this by stating that I'm dead set against new gun laws as they are indeed the path to disarming us, but your Australian example is not good ammo for the cause. Although your mentioned overall numbers did go up, because of Australia's growing population, the per capita number has remained pretty much the same. Using it as example for our case by either side is pretty much apples and oranges.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Hectic.....
    December 15, 2012 10:19 am
    they're not the problem :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bullyforyou wrote...
    idiot,,,,
    December 15, 2012 11:59 am
    do your research. Avg aussies didn't own guns even before the buyback. they had no constitutional right to own one, unlike me. when you can show me that a gun kills by itself, i'll agree they are the problem. the problem is the person holding the gun, you idiot....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    violent crime
    December 15, 2012 6:35 pm
    you know violent crime is up in Australia now don't you, it's not as safe as it was before, there are no guns in the lawful peoples possesion to scare the badguys...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    I know I am, what
    December 16, 2012 11:01 am
    r you?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick (4) wrote...
    Making guns illegal will not stop this senseless killing!
    December 14, 2012 7:03 pm
    Yes, I am sad today for these lost lives.

    But making guns illegal will not stop bad people from having guns anymore than making drugs illegal stopped people from using drugs. All banning guns would do is take guns away from the good people as the bad people will always find a way to get a gun just as drug users always find a way to get illegal drugs.IMO people have the right to own guns to defend themselves from the bad people that will always have guns. Ban guns and deadly home invasions will go up as the good people will no longer beable to defend themselves from the bad people who will have illegal guns.

    I pray for those lost and their families/friends.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dspuy wrote...
    I agree
    December 15, 2012 5:52 am
    I agree. prayer for people of Newtown to have experienced this tragedy
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    dspuy
    December 15, 2012 2:59 pm
    agreed. I cannot fathom the grief of the parents of those little children - or the other loved ones....my heart breaks for the entire community.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Maybe instead of debating about guns...
    December 14, 2012 7:47 pm
    We should be debating about healthcare and mental health issues. The first thing cut during a budget shortfall is money for mental health and the care for mentally ill Americans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    @Forrest
    December 14, 2012 10:08 pm
    Good point.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick (4) wrote...
    I agree
    December 15, 2012 6:48 am
    ...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Forrest I think this is a debate
    December 16, 2012 12:42 pm
    that is sorely needed, but let's not count on it as it doesn't get as many headlines as "assault weapons etc etc.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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