The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Peter Hamm, 202-289-5792, phamm@bradymail.org

Nine Dead in Connecticut, Two in Indiana

WASHINGTON

This morning, police said, a disgruntled worker at a
Hartford beer and wine distributor shot and killed eight people before
being shot and killed by police, while a masked gunman with an assault
rifle killed two and injured six at a party in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
and former Indiana political leader, issued the following statement from
Chicago:

"We make it too easy for dangerous people to arm themselves - people
like the angry, severely troubled man who murdered co-workers in
Hartford. And we allow public access to military-style semiautomatic
assault weapons, like the shooter in Indianapolis. We need to come to
terms with this horror in our country.

"While these types of tragedies are taking place, Congress is passing
laws to ensure the gun lobby is exempt from campaign finance laws and
that gun owners can keep their arsenals if they file bankruptcy. And we
have a President who won't talk about solutions to the gun violence
problem.

"I grieve for the families who have lost loved ones today, just like
the families who lost loved ones last week, and the week before, and the
week before that. There must come a day when we do something about
this, rather than just shrug and say it's inevitable."

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading
the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its
dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and
enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady
Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where
all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our
communities.

Brady United formerly known as The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and its legislative and grassroots affiliate, the Brady Campaign and its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, is the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence. We are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.