NEWTOWN, Connecticut – Over a decade has passed since the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and now a group of survivors from that horrific day are marking a significant milestone as they graduate from high school.
On December 14, 2012, twenty students and six staff members lost their lives in the shooting, with some of the youngest victims being only six years old. After enduring such tragedy at a young age, around 60 survivors gathered at Newtown High School for a private graduation ceremony.
Despite the joy of reaching this important milestone, graduating students shared the complex emotions they carry with them from that fateful day. Emma Ehrens, who witnessed the shooting in her classroom, spoke of the fear and trauma she has lived with since she was just six years old.
Similarly, Lilly Wasilnak expressed the bittersweet feeling of reaching graduation day, knowing that a significant portion of their class would not be walking alongside them. Many of the survivors have since become advocates for gun control, even meeting with Vice-President Kamala Harris at the White House.
The shooter, a 20-year-old armed with rifles and a handgun, took his own life as police closed in on the scene. The aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting prompted former President Barack Obama to push for stricter gun control measures, but faced opposition in Congress.
Despite the efforts to pass legislation banning assault rifles and expanding background checks, the bills failed to gain enough support. This tragedy remains the deadliest mass shooting in a US elementary school, sparking a wave of increased awareness around gun violence prevention.
Since Sandy Hook, the United States has seen over 4,200 mass shootings, highlighting the ongoing issue of gun violence in the country. This graduation serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of those who survived unthinkable tragedy at such a young age, carrying the weight of that day with them as they move forward in life.