Web Exclusive: Remembering Dawn Hochsprung
One year ago, we pulled up to George Hochsprung's home not knowing what to expect. His wife, Dawn Hochsprung, was the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary and was killed trying to prevent the shooter from killing children in her school. When George introduced us to his family we knew we met an incredible and strong group of people. They were so kind, welcoming and wanted us to make sure we shared Dawn's story. They asked us to make sure we told our viewers what a kind, caring and loving woman Dawn was. Erica Lafferty is Dawn's daughter and was struggling to come to grips with what had just happened to her mother and best friend. She helped to plan her wedding which was only a few months away. She desperately wanted this to be a horrible dream where she would wake up and still have her mother.
We kept in touch with Erica over the past year and we interviewed her to see how she's been doing since a year has passed. What is life like for her now? What we learned was Erica is a strong woman who has taken on a massive challenge to have no one ever forget who Dawn Hochsprung was.
Playgrounds rise in memory of Sandy Hook shooting victims
Honoring the Children: Newtown one year later
Editor's note: You can watch this documentary on CNN December 14 at 7 pm E.T.
This Saturday marks the first anniversary of the day that changed life forever in the community of Newtown Connecticut. On December 14th 2012, a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and opened fire, killing 26 people including 20 children. CNN is broadcasting a special report called "Honoring the Children: Newtown one year later" which examines the legacies left behind by three of the first-graders who died.
Authorities release 911 recordings from Sandy Hook tragedy
It has been nearly a year since a gunman killed 20 children and six staffers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut. Today, 911 recordings from those terrible moments were made public. They reveal ordinary people doing their best to save lives in the middle of the worst situation anyone can imagine. Deborah Feyerick has listened to all of the recordings and has the story.
There is no easy answer to the question of whether to play all, some, or none of the recordings. Anderson discussed this issue with Christiane Amanpour, Jeffrey Toobin and Dr. Drew Pinksy.
New details revealed in the Sandy Hook shooting report
Nearly one year after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, authorities in Connecticut released their final report on the tragedy. They found no motive for Adam Lanza's actions that claimed the lives of his mother, 20 first graders, six educators, and himself. Susan Candiotti has new information revealed in this report.
Newtown victim's mom fights for gun laws
Nicole Hockley, whose son was murdered, is lobbying Congress for tighter gun control restrictions with other Sandy Hook families. She tells Anderson Cooper about her son, Dylan, and her mission in his memory.
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Post by: Filed under: Connecticut School Shooting • Gun Control • Guns |
Gun law politics and the Newtown massacre
Gun control advocates are seizing on newly released documents showing the Sandy Hook shooter had a full-fledged arsenal in his home. What do the new revelations mean for the push for stricter gun laws? Anderson talks with Democratic Strategist Cornell Belcher and The Washington Times’ Emily Miller.
Newtown victim's parents fight for change
Grace McDonnell's mom and dad want people to understand their pain and loss so they'll take action on gun legislation. Their 7-year-old daughter was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
Lynn and Chris McDonnell met with Vice President Biden and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today. Anderson Cooper spoke with them about their efforts to prevent another massacre.
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Post by: Filed under: Connecticut School Shooting • Gun Control • Guns |
Police chief: Slow motion mass murder in U.S.
Anderson Cooper talks to Milwaukee Police Chief Flynn about his heated exchange with Senator Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at a Senate hearing on a proposed assault weapons ban.
The debate began when Graham questioned why law enforcement doesn't prosecute people who fail background checks when applying for a gun. His point was that the government should enforce current laws rather than enact new legislation.
Flynn's response was that the background checks are working in those cases by preventing someone who shouldn't have a gun from getting one. He explained there simply aren't enough resources to go after everyone who fails a background check.
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Post by: Filed under: Congress • Connecticut School Shooting • Guns |
Newtown victim's dad: 'I'm Jesse's voice'
Neil Heslin testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the proposed assault weapons ban Wednesday. His son Jesse was murdered in the Sandy Hook school shooting along with 19 other children. Anderson Cooper spoke with Mr. Heslin about his loss and the gun law changes he believes will make school safer.
"I just feel that it's something I have to do...I feel there's got to be changes made," Heslin said about his decision to speak to lawmakers. Despite the difficulty of being exposed to the political tension over gun control during a time of mourning, he believes he would be letting his son down if he didn't testify.
Read "Survey: Teachers don't want to carry guns, do support armed guards."
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Post by: Filed under: Congress • Connecticut School Shooting • Guns |
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