Sen. Boucher Statement on Sandy Hook Report

Hartford, CT – State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) and Co-Chair of the School Security Working Group of the Bipartisan Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety released the following statement today re: Sandy Hook Report.

“This report underscores the difficulty in predicting such a devastating horror. All parents expect their children to be safe at school. What occurred on December 14, 2012 was a parent’s, school system and community's worst nightmare.

“The School Security Working Group sought to help reduce any perpetrator's ability to access victims by providing funding for infrastructure upgrades. The group also required school security plans, procedures and training that included law enforcement expertise in formulating those plans.

“Although there may be nothing that can completely rule out violence, an added layer of school security measures have been undertaken throughout Connecticut’s school systems.

“Greater attention however should have been given to the mental health issues that confront and challenge not only our school community but society at large.  The legislature cannot ignore the serious mental health issues that are exacerbated by violent media, videos and movies.

“As a society, we all have a responsibility to confront these growing negative influences and the need for medical intervention when a family cannot cope. We may never know why the shooter did what he did, but we must try to find new ways of identifying and treating deeply troubled individuals before they become a threat to themselves or others.”