Newtown marks 6 months since massacre
NEWTOWN, Conn. -- 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, founded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 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 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 owner rights.
The gunman in Newtown killed his mother and the 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School with a semi-automatic 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.
Jillian and Carlee Soto met with President Barack Obama.
"He just told us to have faith," said Jillian Soto, 24. "It isn't something that happens overnight."
The White House announced Friday that Obama will meet again with victims' relatives next Thursday.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
