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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

"In the U.S., It Happens Again and Again"

WASHINGTON

YESHUA MOSER-PUANGSUWAN, yeshua at nonviolenceinternational.net
A board member of Small Arms Survey, an international, independent research project, Moser-Puangsuwan was quoted in an Institute for Public Accuracy news release in 2007 following the mass shooting at Virginia Tech: "Other Western countries like Australia and the UK have one mass shooting, then institute policies on guns and don't have a repeat. In the U.S., it happens again and again."
He said today: "It's tragic that my comment remains true and this has happened -- yet again."

LADD EVERITT, leveritt at csgv.org, @CSGV
Everitt is director of communications for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, which today has tweeted: "13 years since Columbine & our legislators have done almost nothing to prevent homicidal maniacs from gaining easy access to guns #NoMoreNRA" and ".@MikeBloomberg to @BarackObama: Condolences aren't enough, what are you going to do about guns?"

A statement from the group read in part: "Reports indicate that the shooter, 24-year-old James Holmes wore body armor and was armed with two Glock handguns, a tactical shotgun, and an AR-15 style assault rifle. He also released some type of chemical gas into the theater during the massacre. Twelve fatalities have been reported so far, with approximately 38 moviegoers injured, including 16 critically.

"Sadly, there is nothing novel about this tragedy. It is yet another massacre perpetuated by a homicidal maniac who was given easy access to lethal, military-style firepower.

"The pro-gun movement has told us that bloodbaths like Aurora are the price we must pay to guarantee freedom and individual liberty in the United States. Rational Americans should reject such radical ideology and demand immediate reform of our gun laws.

"The truth is that there is no greater threat to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' than the wanton gun violence that continues to destroy American families and communities. Until our legislators stand up to the extreme leadership of the National Rifle Association and enact laws to assure the thorough screening of gun buyers, tragedies like Aurora will continue to haunt America. It is long past time to put public safety back on the agenda in the U.S. Congress, and in our state legislatures."

A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.