Years After the Mass Shootings at Columbine and Virginia Tech and Months After Parkland, Congress Refuses to Take Significant Action on Gun Safety
WASHINGTON – Survivors from the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech and the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School and Everytown for Gun Safety today released the following statements.
STATEMENT FROM COLIN GODDARD, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHO WAS SHOT AND INJURED IN THE MASS SHOOTING AT VIRGINIA TECH ON APRIL 16, 2007:
“I was a student sitting in French class when a gunman opened fire inside my school. 32 of my fellow classmates and faculty at Virginia Tech were killed while I survived four gunshots to my hips, leg, and shoulder. Eleven years later, Congress is still ignoring the problem. Now a new generation is helping lead the charge to demand our elected leaders simply do their jobs and protect us from gun violence. The time for congressional action is now.”
STATEMENT FROM CONI SANDERS, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHOSE FATHER WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE MASS SHOOTING AT COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL ON APRIL 20, 1999:
“My father was teaching at the high school he loved when he became a victim of gun violence. Since his death, I’ve worked tirelessly to strengthen gun laws in Colorado and around the country. While states like Colorado have stepped up to the plate to pass common-sense gun safety measures, our leaders at the national level still are refusing to take any real action. It is unacceptable.”
STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:
“If lawmakers think the American people are willing to wait another 19 years for action on gun safety, they should set their alarms for a rude awakening on November 6th. Every day, more and more students, teachers, mothers and fathers are getting off the sidelines and demanding that lawmakers fulfill their most basic duty and pass laws to protect us.”