Connecticut politicians didn’t just offer thoughts and prayers, the well-worn sentiment at every fresh tragedy, following the news of a shooting that killed two children and injured 17 more at a church in Minneapolis Wednesday.
Instead, the Senate Republican Caucus, led by Sen. Stephen Harding, condemned the violence.
“Heartbreaking. Horrific. Pure evil. We join the rest of the country in condemning this senseless, disgusting violence,” the caucus’s statement said.
A young adult fired on the church at Annunciation Catholic School Wednesday, killing an 8 and 10 year old, and injuring 14 more children and 3 adults, officials said. The 23-year-old suspect reportedly had ties to the school and in social media postings made references to previous mass shootings.
House Republican leader Vincent Candelora said, “The senseless loss of children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis is heartbreaking. These precious lives were taken far too soon in this horrific tragedy. My thoughts are with the grieving families, the survivors and the entire school community as they face pain I just can’t fathom.”
Connecticut’s Senate Democrats President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff issued a statement, not to comment on the shooting, but on Connecticut Republicans’ statement:
“Republicans lie about crime to create fear. Each and every time Connecticut Democrats raise common-sense reforms to prevent tragedies just like the one we just witnessed in Minneapolis, Republicans filibuster for hours, vote no, and introduce countless roadblocks in an effort to run out the clock or water down our safeguards,” the statement said.
“They ignore the pleas of parents, the lessons learned from advocates, and the strategic advice of our local police in order to obey every whim of a heartless gun lobby. If the nation did even a fraction of what Connecticut has done, we’d be far safer. On this issue, Republicans should sit this one out—we won’t let them undo the reforms that have made Connecticut one of the safest states in the country.”
Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a national leader on gun control, follow each school shooting with calls for reform and more limitations on access to guns.
Sandy Hook Promise, the group founded to address the epidemic of school shootings following the mass shooting in the Connecticut elementary school that killed 26, including 20 6 and 7 year olds on Dec. 4, 2012, did just that Wednesday.
“How many more children must die before we act? Our kids deserve to be safe in their classrooms and communities, and free from gun violence,” Sandy Hook Promise posted.
The worst school shooting in U.S. history, officials believe the alleged Minneapolis shooter was obsessed with the tragedy and its perpetrator, Adam Lanza.
Nicole Hockley, of Sandy Hook Promise blasted thoughts and prayers, saying “Our children deserve more than moments of silence, thoughts and prayers. They deserve action.”
The group also offered resources to help guide parents in talking to children about the shooting. They can be found at sandyhookpromise.org/resources/ways-to-help.
