School Security Working Group of the Gun Violence Prevention and Children s Safety Bipartisan Task Force Informational Forum (Date Recorded: 1/25/2013)
Length: 2 hr 59 min
Newtown calls on Connecticut to 'show America the way' on gun control
updated 12:39 PM EST, Tue February 5, 2013
Newtown parents plead for change
Can there be a solution to America's gun problems? Anderson Cooper
looks at both sides of the debate in "Guns Under Fire: an AC360º Town
Hall Special" Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on CNN. It will re-air at 10 p.m.
ET.
(CNN) -- They spoke with the passion that only those who have lost so much can speak.
Six weeks since the Newtown, Connecticut, shooting
claimed the lives of 20 elementary school kids and six educators,
hundreds filled the local high school auditorium, nearly all raising
their voices for tougher gun control laws before a state task force.
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For six hours, they poured out their hearts, their losses and their tears.
"We all recognize
December 14 as the day hell came to Newtown," said Nicole Hockley,
mother of 6-year-old Dylan, who was one of the children killed by a
gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Dave Wheeler, who also
lost his son Benjamin that day, calmly told the legislative panel that
the government's priorities need to be set straight.
"The liberty of any
person to own a military-style assault weapon and a high-capacity
magazine and keep them in their home is second to the right of my son to
his life," he said, noting that the Constitution says Americans are
endowed with the inalienable rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness."
"Let's honor the founding documents and get our priorities straight," he concluded, to a standing ovation.
Other parents called for
the community to rally before the hearing, which focused on gun
violence, mental health and school safety.
"Together we can turn
this tragedy into the event that turned the tide. That empowered us, as
individuals, a society and the world, to choose love," said Scarlet
Lewis, mother of Jesse.
While calls for tougher
gun laws far outnumbered those arguing against them, several speakers
said the weapons are not the problem.
"Neither the size of the
magazine nor the style of the rifle will affect the actions of evil,"
Brian Shimer said. "Those wishing to do harm to those wishing to do good
will never be swayed by the laws of men."
And Michael Collin said he didn't want to be in a situation where he could be outgunned.
"I don't want to have to
wait for someone to come to defend me. I want to be able to defend
myself," he said, concerned about speaking his mind in a town still
grieving so deeply.
But the hearing was not contentious.
"Even if Mike Collins
and I disagree, I respect him immensely," said Dr. William Begg, one of
the physicians who tried to save lives after the shooting. "What I'm
asking is you consider a stronger assault weapons ban, elimination of
the sale of semiautomatic weapons, restriction in the size of magazine
clips."
This month, President
Barack Obama unveiled a two-pronged approach to gun violence that
included legislation and a set of executive actions. He called on
Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, institute universal background
checks on gun purchases and outlaw gun magazines that hold more than 10
rounds.
But the residents of
Newtown didn't appear to be content to wait for Washington to move,
calling their home state to take action.
"Connecticut, the U.S.
is at a crossroads and the nation's eyes are on us and you," said
Newtown resident Georgia Monaghan. "Show America the way."
A former drug addict turned anti-violence
crusader, and a man who lost his father in a temple shooting. These are
just two of many in the conversation.
updated 1:22 PM EST, Fri February 1, 2013
At a town hall that brought all sides of the gun debate together, was there a consensus? Sort of.
updated 9:33 AM EST, Wed February 6, 2013
The shooting death of a former SEAL, who
spent his post-military career advocating for veterans suffering from
PTSD, highlights long-standing differences over gun rights and mental
health.
updated 10:51 AM EST, Tue February 5, 2013
The federal background check system for gun
buyers didn't stop a mentally ill man from buying a gun, which he used
to kill his mother.
updated 7:37 PM EST, Thu January 31, 2013
In disputes over the future of gun laws, people espousing different positions often literally don't understand each other.
updated 7:41 PM EST, Thu January 31, 2013
"Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something," Giffords said in a rare public appearance.
updated 5:47 AM EST, Fri February 1, 2013
The family of a Chicago teenager killed just a
week after she performed in President Barack Obama's inauguration
supports using her death to help shape the debate over gun control.
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