Politicians and public policy experts alike sounded off in the days after Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 students and six teachers at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school. The worst K-12 school shooting in U.S. history stirred fresh debate about gun control and the best way to protect American schoolchildren. Here are just some quotes from the post-Sandy Hook debate:
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“In the coming weeks, I will use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens — from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators — in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this.” – President Barack Obama, Newtown speech, Dec. 16, 2012
“Politicians pass laws for gun-free school zones, they issue press releases bragging about them. They post signs advertising them. And, in doing so, they tell every insane killer in America that schools are the safest place to inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk.”
– Wayne LaPierre, president of National Rifle Association, Sandy Hook news conference, Dec. 21, 2012
“When bad things happen with guns, the desire to ... take away guns is understandable. But doing that can often make problems worse.” – John Lott, author of "More Guns, Less Crime," op-ed for
U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 19, 2012
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“We also have to be honest with ourselves that 300,000,000 guns are not going away, nor is schizophrenia, nor elementary schools. We must seriously consider arming teachers and administrators but arms are not always firearms. We should consider adding Tasers and other less lethal devices and training on their use for the adults we trust to watch over our kids.”
– Gene Hoffman, Chairman of the Calguns Foundation, op-ed for
U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 19, 2012
“A historic opportunity now lies before us to curb the gun violence destroying our families and communities. For the sake of future generations, let us hope our elected officials seize it.” – Joshua Horowitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, op-ed for
U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 19, 2012
“This cannot become the new normal. Parents shouldn't have to hesitate, even slightly, wondering if our kids will be safe when we drop them off at school, the mall, or the movies.” – CEO of MomsRising Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, op-ed for
U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 19, 2012
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