The father of one of the children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary has posted an open letter to Richard Martinez, who tearfully lashed out at "irresponsible politicians and the NRA" after his son Chris was killed on Friday in the shooting rampage in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Mark Barden, the father 7-year-old Daniel Barden, who was fatally shot by Adam Lanza at the Newtown, Ct., school along with 19 other children and six adults on Dec. 14, 2012, posted this letter to the Sandy Hook Promise Facebook page:
Dear Richard Martinez, We have not met, but you are now part of our extended family. It is not a family we chose, but a family born from the horrible circumstance of losing a child to gun violence—one that’s only growing each day. My heart breaks for you because I know just a little about the long road ahead of you. We have reached out to you privately but publicly we wanted to say to you and those feeling the sorrow, anger and frustration of this weeks' shooting, you are not alone. It has helped me, and some of the other family members who lost children and family at Sandy Hook Elementary, to come together and advocate for common sense solutions to expanding programs for mental wellness and gun safety solutions. You will find your own path down this difficult road. But know that we are here for you and all of you who have been touched by this tragedy. Together we can and will build a safer world for all our children. With deepest sympathy, Mark Barden
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