Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement in response to the senseless murders in an elementary school in Newtown, CT.

“As a father of three, I am horrified by the violence committed against these innocent children and their teachers in Connecticut.  As a human being, I am appalled that someone could commit such an insane act and actually pull that trigger ending those young lives. The grief I feel for the families of the victims is too great for words. We have had too many moments like this – 31 school massacres in our country since Columbine. 

“Today, our nation mourns.  In the coming days and weeks, we must come to grips with the horrors of the growing gun violence we are witnessing with all too much frequency.  This country must keep guns out of the hands of deranged murderers, and the fact that we cannot pass sensible gun control in this Congress is a blot on our reputation.  As I have said many times in the past, we must pass sensible gun control.  We owe it to the memories of the children and teachers murdered today.”

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