Daughter of murdered Sandy Hook principal slams Bernie Sanders over gun policy

(Image credit: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

published 6 April 2016

The New York Daily News has published many memorable, scathing covers mocking Donald Trump. But on Wednesday, the tabloid took aim at another candidate altogether:

The Daily News asserts that Sanders is against a proposal that would allow victims of gun crimes like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, to sue the weapon's manufacturer. Plaintiffs in the Newtown case, however, have claimed that they can in fact sue such companies because the manufacturers were aware that the AR-15 assault rifle used by Adam Lanza to kill 20 students and six school staffers was unsuitable for civilian use. Freedom Group, the parent company of the AR-15 manufacturer, has argued that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms protects them from lawsuits over crimes committed with their weapons.

On Tuesday evening, Erica Smegielski, the daughter of Sandy Hook's principal who was killed in the shooting, tweeted the Daily News link, writing, "Shame on you @BernieSanders try living one hour in our lives." Smegielski added in a second tweet, "I hope @BernieSanders really #feelsthebern of this one. His judgment is despicable."

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The criticism comes at a nerve-wracking time for Sanders, who faces an important face-off with Hillary Clinton in the New York primaries on April 19. Sanders has explained his stance by saying he fears that small, responsible gun manufacturers will be hurt by lawsuits, but that he would support more specific legislation aimed at manufacturers who knowingly give weapons to the wrong people, Politico reports. Sanders' spokesman has said his candidate's comments, as portrayed by the Daily News, are "certainly not accurate."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.