I teach in Connecticut, and bogged down with sadness and no energy to do anything else but Google about the shooting, I found this article in The New Republic (believe it) which details some astounding information about a huge pro-gun organization right in Sandy Hook Elementary School's back yard- The National Shooting Sports Foundation
About NSSF ~
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
Lydia DePillis of The New Republic reports that $500,000 on pro-gun lobbying (compared to the NRA's $2.2 million), most of which went to a D.C. lobbyist. Their CEO makes over $300,000 a year
The Gawker has also picked this up, adding
"The NSSF's location in Newtown is an incidental coincidence, of course, but an unfortunate one nonetheless in light of today's events".
Via the
Newtown Patch ~
Already the United Way of Western Connecticut, in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank, created the Sandy Hook School Support Fund to help provide support services to the families and community that are affected.
Check donations may be mailed to:
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470
The United Way website here.
If you have questions on the fund, you may call 800-461-0672.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation owes Connecticut more than apology; they should be providing thousands of dollars for assistance and scholarships to Newtown families.