On Saturday, December 14 a high school football championship in Connecticut made national news. Newtown High School won on a last second play for its first state championship since 1992. The story and video went viral. Yet this did not receive national attention because of the thrilling finish of the game. Rather it was because of a horrific mass shooting that happened seven years ago to the day at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. On that terrible day of December 14, 2012 a lone gunman murdered 26 people including 20 children ages 6-7 and 6 adult educators. Two days later, President Obama went to Newtown to visit with the grief stricken families and to attend an interfaith vigil. Durning that visit he said,
“We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end, and to end them we must change.”
Yet instead of significant lasting change to reduce gun violence in our country, mass killings have increased over the last seven years and have become a tragically regular part of our national life. Shortly after the murders at Newtown, the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission was formed and issued its final report in March of 2015. Some of its recommendations included increased background checks for gun purchases, banning assault style weapons, and banning high capacity ammunition magazines. These recommendations sound familiar, because they were never implemented and get repeated in the wake of subsequent mass killings. When will we honor the memories of those 26 by demanding common sense gun laws such as those recommendations made by the Sandy Hook Commission? Newtown experienced a moment of joy by winning a high school football championship on the anniversary of their greatest tragedy. The nation shared in Newtown’s moment of joy. The nation can do more by making lasting changes that reduce gun violence that took the lives of 26 precious children and adults. Especially during this season when we celebrate the gift of the Prince of Peace, let us commit ourselves to the work of peace that includes reducing gun violence.
