Excerpt
JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour): Today marked six months since the massacre in Newtown, Conn., an attack that brought tears and outrage and prompted a new debate over gun violence and rights.
Margaret Warner has a look at how the day was commemorated.
CARLEE SOTO, Sister of Victoria Soto: If we can take that moment now, please?
MARGARET WARNER (Newshour): The sister of slain teacher Victoria Soto asked for twenty six seconds of silence today, one for each of the victims killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
They were gunned down on Dec. 14, after Adam Lanza killed his mother and then stormed Sandy Hook. Police said Lanza shot 20 schoolchildren and six educators, before shooting himself. Today's moment of silence was followed by a daylong reading of more than 6,000 names, all victims of gun violence around the country since the Newtown tragedy.
The memorial was organized by Mayors Against Gun Violence, a group funded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg that has been working with some of the victims' families. Some of those families have been trying for months to persuade lawmakers to back tighter gun control measures, including background checks.
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: The amendment is not agreed to.
MARGARET WARNER: But that legislation failed to pass the Senate in April. Now some senators, including some who voted no, are said to be discussing an amended bill.
Families came to Capitol Hill yesterday vowing to support it.
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