CNN Special Report: Sandy Hook, Forever Remembered
December 18, 2022
8:27 p.m. Eastern
ALISYN CAMEROTA: In early April 2013, the Connecticut legislature passed sweeping gun legislation, adding around 100 firearms to an existing assault weapons ban, and banning the future sale of magazines with more than 10 bullets.
FORMER STATE SENATOR JOHN McKINLEY (R-CT): Knowing that the eyes of the country were on us -- were on the tragedy in Newtown, maybe we would send a message that some things need to be beyond politics.
CAMEROTA: Since the law was passed, Connecticut has not had a single shooting with more than three fatalities. After the huge state-level win, many families from Newtown were hopeful for a nationwide victory, and made the trip to D.C. for the vote in the Senate.
NICOLE HOCKLEY, MOTHER OF SCHOOL SHOOTING VICTIM: I was very hopeful at that point because I assumed that we were going to have a victory there.
MARK BARDEN, FATHER OF SCHOOL SHOOTING VICTIM: I knew that at least 90 percent of Americans wanted to see that happen. I just thought, "Okay, this is simple -- this is basic -- this is what everybody wants."
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN (presiding over U.S. Senate): --requiring 60 votes for the adoption of this amendment, the amendment is not agreed to.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: A minority in the United States Senate decided it wasn't worth it. They blocked common sense gun reform even while these families looked on from the Senate gallery. This was a pretty shameful day for Washington.
HOCKLEY: I was just -- I was floored. I was absolutely devastated because I thought with -- with all of the momentum after the shooting -- with all of the public polling that showed the people wanted background checks. I received a very hard and devastating lesson on politics that day.
BARDEN: The gun lobby was able to influence legislators because, when the polls were done, passing that universal background check bill at the federal level was polling higher than ice cream and baseball. Over 90 percent of Americans wanted that done. And then it didn't pass.
