Survivors mark 10 years since Sandy Hook shooting by helping others


A decade after one of the worst school shootings in American history, survivors of that tragic day are reflecting on the gun violence that is still commonly seen in the United States.
Wednesday marked 10 years since the Dec. 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. The children that died were all between six and seven years old.
Residents of Newtown spent the day attending vigils and paying their respects at a recently erected memorial to the victims.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I feel it's important that folks hold some time to reflect on those that have been lost through this preventable shooting epidemic," Mark Barden told Reuters. "If everybody does a little bit we can really make a difference."
Barden's son Daniel was killed in the shooting. In the aftermath of his son's death, Barden, along with a number of other Newtown families, co-founded the Sandy Hook Promise, an organization dedicated to teaching people about the warning signs of mental illness and mass shootings.
Others in Newtown have also worked to turn their pain into purpose.
Jackie Hagerty was seven when she survived the gunman's attack. Now 17, she penned a letter to "future school shooting survivors" to try and offer them ways to cope.
"The reason I'm writing this is because I believe that the aftermath of a tragedy is not just the few days that gain the public's attention," she wrote. "It's the years of mourning, grieving, and processing."
"I, myself, was afraid to show my emotions," she added. "I'm here to tell you NOT to do that ... You're allowed to have emotions. It's human, and going through something traumatic almost requires you to have emotions."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
June 29 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the AI genie, Iran saving face, and bad language bombs
-
A tall ship adventure in the Mediterranean
The Week Recommends Sailing aboard this schooner and exploring Portugal, Spain and Monaco is a 'magical' experience
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack
-
2 Israel Embassy staff shot dead at DC Jewish museum
speed read The suspected gunman chanted 'free, free Palestine'
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'
speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attack
Speed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival