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| Sandy Hook victim's mother pleads for action on gun control | Sandy Hook victim's mother pleads for action on gun control |
| (30 days later) | |
| The mother of one of the young victims of the Sandy Hook school massacre used President Barack Obama's weekly address on Saturday to issue a heartfelt plea for tighter gun controls. | The mother of one of the young victims of the Sandy Hook school massacre used President Barack Obama's weekly address on Saturday to issue a heartfelt plea for tighter gun controls. |
| Francine Wheeler, whose six-year-old son Ben was one of 20 elementary-aged students killed in December's mass shooting in Connecticut, urged Americans to press Congress to pass "commonsense" laws. | Francine Wheeler, whose six-year-old son Ben was one of 20 elementary-aged students killed in December's mass shooting in Connecticut, urged Americans to press Congress to pass "commonsense" laws. |
| "I've heard people say that the tidal wave of anguish our country felt on 12/14 (the day of the shooting) has receded. But not for us," Wheeler said. She added: "To us, it feels as if it happened just yesterday. And in the four months since we lost our loved ones, thousands of other Americans have died at the end of a gun. Thousands of other other families across the United States are also drowning in our grief." | "I've heard people say that the tidal wave of anguish our country felt on 12/14 (the day of the shooting) has receded. But not for us," Wheeler said. She added: "To us, it feels as if it happened just yesterday. And in the four months since we lost our loved ones, thousands of other Americans have died at the end of a gun. Thousands of other other families across the United States are also drowning in our grief." |
| The substitution for the president in the weekly address is the latest attempt to ratchet up pressure on those who may intend to vote down proposed changes to the current law. | The substitution for the president in the weekly address is the latest attempt to ratchet up pressure on those who may intend to vote down proposed changes to the current law. |
| The comments from Wheeler come just days after Democrat senator Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey – both previously known for advocating gun rights – announced a compromise deal under which background checks would be extended to include online sales and gun shows. | The comments from Wheeler come just days after Democrat senator Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey – both previously known for advocating gun rights – announced a compromise deal under which background checks would be extended to include online sales and gun shows. |
| At a subsequent vote on Thursday, 16 Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to ensure a debate on gun controls would take place. | At a subsequent vote on Thursday, 16 Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to ensure a debate on gun controls would take place. |
| But amid heavy lobbying from, among others, the National Rifle Association, the passage of any bill proposing greater checks is far from certain. | But amid heavy lobbying from, among others, the National Rifle Association, the passage of any bill proposing greater checks is far from certain. |
| Many Republicans and a handful of Democrats who are up for re-election next year may still vote down universal background checks. | Many Republicans and a handful of Democrats who are up for re-election next year may still vote down universal background checks. |
| Advocates for a change in America's lax gun laws have already been disappointed by the apparent jettisoning of measures that would have outlawed the private ownership of certain assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. | Advocates for a change in America's lax gun laws have already been disappointed by the apparent jettisoning of measures that would have outlawed the private ownership of certain assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. |
| Amid fears that initial momentum for change is waning, the families of the children killed at Sandy Hook alongside six adult staff members have become increasingly vocal over the issue. | Amid fears that initial momentum for change is waning, the families of the children killed at Sandy Hook alongside six adult staff members have become increasingly vocal over the issue. |
| On Monday, a dozen parents met with senators in Washington in an effort to persuade them to back reforms. They had travelled from Connecticut with the president on Air Force One. | On Monday, a dozen parents met with senators in Washington in an effort to persuade them to back reforms. They had travelled from Connecticut with the president on Air Force One. |
| Giving up air time to one of the victim's parents is a further move by the White House to harness the emotional power of the personal testimony to help force through changes to America's gun laws. | Giving up air time to one of the victim's parents is a further move by the White House to harness the emotional power of the personal testimony to help force through changes to America's gun laws. |
| In her address, Wheeler described her son as "irrepressibly bright and spirited" and a child who "lived at full tilt" | In her address, Wheeler described her son as "irrepressibly bright and spirited" and a child who "lived at full tilt" |
| "Sometimes, I close my eyes and all I can remember is that awful day waiting at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Firehouse for the boy who would never come home – the same firehouse that was home to Ben's tiger scout den. But other times, I feel Ben's presence filling me with the courage for what I have to do – for him and all the others taken from us so violently and too soon." | "Sometimes, I close my eyes and all I can remember is that awful day waiting at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Firehouse for the boy who would never come home – the same firehouse that was home to Ben's tiger scout den. But other times, I feel Ben's presence filling me with the courage for what I have to do – for him and all the others taken from us so violently and too soon." |
| She described the Senate vote as "only the start". "They haven't yet passed any bills that will help keep the guns out of the hands of dangerous people. And a lot of people are fighting to make sure they never do." | She described the Senate vote as "only the start". "They haven't yet passed any bills that will help keep the guns out of the hands of dangerous people. And a lot of people are fighting to make sure they never do." |
| She called on Americans to put pressure on the Senate to push forward with the laws, adding: "Now is the time to act". | She called on Americans to put pressure on the Senate to push forward with the laws, adding: "Now is the time to act". |
| In a statement issued before the radio address, Wheeler said she was honoured to be given the chance to address the American public directly. | In a statement issued before the radio address, Wheeler said she was honoured to be given the chance to address the American public directly. |
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