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Sens. Murphy and Blumenthal Note Approaching Sandy Hook Anniversary

murphy.senate.gov, blumenthal.senate.gov
Senators Chris Murphy, left, and Richard Blumenthal.
"What if his cartridges had six or ten bullets instead of 30?"
Sen. Chris Murphy

Two members of Connecticut's congressional delegation are once again calling for action to curb gun violence as the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre approaches.

Democrats Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal spoke Thursday in the Senate about the attack, which took place December 14, 2102, during which a gunman killed 20 children and six educators inside the school.

Murphy urged fellow lawmakers to "do something" to curb the prevalence of gun violence and mass shootings in the U.S.

“Do something to honor those children and adults. Do something to show that there is an ounce of compassion as we sit here three years after the bloody massacre at Sandy Hook,” he said.

Murphy read the names of those killed at Sandy Hook, and wondered if sensible gun laws would have altered the tragic events of that day.

“What would have happened if Lanza didn’t have an assault rifle? Would he even have had the perverse courage to walk into that school if not aided by the security of having a high powered killing machine? Would less kids have died? What if his cartridges had six or ten bullets instead of thirty? Would more kids be alive? Would someone have been able to stop him while he fumbled with another reload?,” he said.

Murphy also urged the Obama administration to take executive action to broaden the definition of "gun dealer" to include people who sell guns at gun shows and on the internet, a change that would make background checks mandatory for all gun purchases.
 

The state's congressional delegation had appeared earlier in the day with families from Newtown and other places affected by gun violence asking Congress to tighten gun restrictions.

Stephanie Riefe, a WNPR intern, contributed to this report, which includes information from The Associated Press. 

Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.

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