Newtown Parent Says Father of Isla Vista Victim Is Now Part of 'Extended Family' [View all]

[madfloridian]

From an Education Week blog today:

Newtown Parent Says Father of Isla Vista Victim Is Now Part of 'Extended Family'

A 22-year-old man killed seven people, including himself, in Isla Vista, Calif., Friday, and he wounded 13 others. In the time since, Richard Martinez, the father of slain University of California, Santa Barbara, student Christopher Michaels-Martinez, has been an outspoken advocate for tougher gun laws.

....Mark Barden, whose son, Daniel, was killed in the attacks, wrote:

"We have not met, but you are now part of our extended family. It is not a family we chose, but a family born from the horrible circumstance of losing a child to gun violence—one that's only growing each day. My heart breaks for you because I know just a little about the long road ahead of you. We have reached out to you privately but publicly we wanted to say to you and those feeling the sorrow, anger. and frustration of this week's shooting, you are not alone. It has helped me, and some of the other family members who lost children and family at Sandy Hook Elementary, to come together and advocate for common sense solutions to expanding programs for mental wellness and gun-safety solutions. You will find your own path down this difficult road. But know that we are here for you and all of you who have been touched by this tragedy. Together, we can and will build a safer world for all our children."

Here is the website of the Sandy Hook Promise

It seems there are 488 comments, an amazing number. You have to click the comments link to see them.

I wonder sometimes if our politicians are fearful only of losing the campaign money they might get for refusing to add any type of gun control? Or if they are fearful of public opinion? Why are they so afraid to do what is so obviously needed?

There is a post in the comments section not very far down from an Australian. Very powerful.

I am so proud to live in Australia and be an Australian right now too! After our last massacre (Port Arthur, almost 20 years ago) our Govt acted immediately to outlaw all automatic weapons and started a buy-back scheme of all guns. The entire country got behind this. We have never NEVER had a mass shooting since. The thought of living in such a fear and paranoia based society as the USA, where you never really know if your kids are going to survive the school day, sounds so far from 'freedom' to me, it's not funny. The whole world sits and watches, horrified and in utter disbelief, as massacre after massacre happens in the US and still the government seems paralysed and totally controlled by the NRA and their ghastly propaganda. No other country in the world is waging such a hideous civil war, whilst constantly spouting on about 'freedom' and 'the right to bear arms'. Really? And exactly how does all this freedom work on a daily basis, when you can't go to a shopping centre, a cinema or school without running the risk of an urban shoot out. What a desperately sad way to live. Thank god for all the wonderful, like-minded people on this site. Our hearts bleed for you.