Statement by Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly Marking Four Years Since the Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School December 13, 2016 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, Co-Founders of Americans for Responsible Solutions, issued the below statement today on the fourth anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which falls Wednesday, December 14:
“Four years ago, our nation’s heart broke when we heard that 20 children and six educators were brutally murdered in their classrooms at Sandy Hook Elementary School. “We know that after a tragedy, hours can feel like years, and years can pass in the blink of an eye. The life we knew before is unrecognizable. We start again, carrying the heaviest weight imaginable: knowing that things will never be the same. “Even if they’re fleeting, moments of joy find their way into our new life. New patterns form, and the sun will rise tomorrow just as it did before. “The families affected by the tragedy at Sandy Hook will never forget the pain they endured on this day four years ago, and we will never forget meeting them days after the tragedy. Their heartbreak is forever seared into our memories. “We carry the pain of the Newtown families with us, especially on those long, hard days when new joy can’t find its way. We meet the reminder of their loss with a promise to stand, work, and fight together. And we honor their spirit by committing to make our communities safer places to live. “This day marks an undeniable moment of sadness, but it also marks a commitment to action that we made by forming Americans for Responsible Solutions. We renew that commitment with determination and faith that we can reduce gun violence and prevent future tragedies. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Newtown community today.”