Congressman Sam Farr, who represents San Benito County, has released a statement following the mass shooting Friday at a Connecticut elementary school. The following is that statement:
As a father and a grandfather, my heart goes out to the families affected by today’s tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. I join with all Americans in prayer for the young lives that were loss in this horrific event at Sandy Hook Elementary.
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In the coming days, many will say that we should not politicize this tragedy by using it as a platform for a tough discussion on gun control.  However, we must ignore those calls because to do so would be the real politicization of this violent act.
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No longer can we simply turn away from these mass shootings and hope that one day they will end. Instead, we need to have a real and frank discussion on the role of guns in our society. Congress and the states must pursue meaningful gun control laws that prevent weapons from getting into the hands of individuals who would commit these horrendous crimes.
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Our nation and the children of Sandy Hook Elementary demand that we have that discussion now.
