Conn. senator ‘embarrassed’ by lack of change ahead of Newtown anniversary

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (D) said Wednesday he feels “awful” Congress hasn’t enacted more significant gun laws in the five years since a mass shooting in his home state at Sandy Hook Elementary.

“I’m always a little embarrassed when I go back to Newtown,” Murphy told The Guardian. “I still feel awful that we haven’t enacted bigger national change.” 

Thursday marks the five-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, which left 26 people, including 20 children, dead. 

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Since the shooting, Murphy has been an outspoken advocate for stricter gun laws.

He introduced bipartisan legislation last month to strengthen the national background check system in the wake of a mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

The measure is co-sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn).

Murphy will meet with some of the families of the Sandy Hook victims on Thursday at a remembrance event at a local church, The Guardian reported.

“Obviously, five years is a milestone, and I think it’s important that there’s some event in the community to remember what happened and to celebrate the lives we lost, but also the lives that have continued,” he said.