3 years after Sandy Hook, parents campaign to prevent gun violence


Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden both lost a child three years ago in the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and they are working to make sure similar tragedies never happen.
Along with other parents, Hockley and Barden are part of "Sandy Hook Promise," a group that aims to prevent gun violence. Hockley's son, Dylan, 6, was killed on Dec. 14, 2012, along with Barden's son, Daniel, 6, and 18 other students and six adults at the Newtown, Connecticut, school. While she knows she can't change the past, Hockley said such violence can't become the new normal. "We can't passively sit back and say, 'These shootings happen,'" she told CBS News.
The group helped pass legislation in Connecticut two years ago that expanded the ban on assault weapons and limited the number of rounds per magazine, and Hockley, Barden, and other parents travel to schools around the country as part of their "Say Something" campaign, which teaches students to report if they hear any plans for attacks. "In almost every one of these mass shootings, there are signs and signals," Barden said. "There are opportunities to intervene. To stop the continuum before it leads to tragedy." The training worked in Cincinnati — a student alerted authorities to an attack being plotted by a classmate. "I burst into tears," Hockley said. "To actually know that we potentially saved lives — that means something." Catherine Garcia
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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Critics' choice: Three takes on tavern dining
Feature A second Minetta Tavern, A 1946 dining experience, and a menu with a mission
By The Week US
-
Film reviews: Warfare and A Minecraft Movie
Feature A combat film that puts us in the thick of it and five misfits fall into a cubic-world adventure
By The Week US
-
What to know before lending money to family or friends
the explainer Ensure both your relationship and your finances remain intact
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
Kenya arrests alleged ant smugglers
speed read Two young Belgians have been charged for attempting to smuggle ants out of the country to exotic pet buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge ends Eric Adams case, Trump leverage
Speed Read Federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were dismissed, as requested by Trump's Justice Department
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Texas arrests midwife on felony abortion charges
Speed Read Maria Margarita Rojas and an employee at one of her clinics are the first to be criminally charged under Texas' near-total abortion ban
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
South Carolina to execute prisoner by firing squad
speed read Death row inmate Brad Sigmon prefers the squad over the electric chair or lethal injection, his lawyer said
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Mexico extradites 29 cartel figures amid US tariff threat
Speed Read The extradited suspects include Rafael Caro Quintero, long sought after killing a US narcotics agent
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Leonard Peltier released from prison
Speed Read The Native American activist convicted of killing two FBI agents had his life sentence commuted by former President Joe Biden
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years
Speed Read The former New Jersey senator was convicted on federal bribery and corruption charges last year
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Police ID driver of exploded Cybertruck, can't see motive
Speed Read An Army Green Beret detonated a homemade bomb in a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US