National and State Gun Violence Prevention Groups, Including Ceasefire New Jersey, CeaseFire PA, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Education Fund, Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, Protest Easy Guns, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Violence Policy Center, WAVE Educational Fund, and Women Against Gun Violence Issue Joint Statement In Advance of NRA's Press Conference Reacting to Sandy Hook Tragedy

Advocates Say that Unless the Gun Lobby is Willing to Support a Strong Ban on Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines, and Background Checks On All Gun Sales, It Must Step Aside and Let Parents and American Citizens Lead the Way to Reform Our Nation's Gun Laws

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Our nation is devastated and trying to cope with the trauma of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. America's families and citizens, from all walks of life, are demanding urgent action in response to the gun massacre that took the lives of 20 six- and seven-year-old children in their classrooms along with six educators by a man using a military-style semi-automatic assault rifle. 

After disappearing from public view for several days after the horrific attack, the National Rifle Association finally issued a statement on Dec. 18^th: "The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."  The NRA is planning a press conference on Friday. 

In advance of the NRA's press event in DC, national and state gun violence prevention groups issued the following joint statement:

"The leadership of the NRA has lost its credibility with the American people, including its own members, hunters, sportsmen, parents, and a growing number of its own supporters in Congress.  The public's trust in the organization and the gun industry has been shattered after seeing the faces and learning the stories of 20 murdered children.

"The American people will not tolerate excuses, delaying tactics, empty rhetoric, and bumper stickers anymore. The whole world will be watching the NRA's Friday press conference to determine just how serious the gun lobby is about responding to the Sandy Hook massacre and the never ending violence in America. 

"If the NRA refuses to offer a meaningful contribution to strengthening America's gun laws listed above – then it simply must get out of the way and let the parents and families who have been devastated by gun violence, along with law enforcement, interfaith leaders and community safety advocates lead the way to reform our nation's gun laws to heal our country once again." 

SOURCE States United to Prevent Gun Violence