Toomey honored by Sandy Hook families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will accept the Sandy Hook Promise Champion Award June 23 for his work to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

Sandy Hook Promise is led by a number of family members of the children and educators killed at the Connecticut school. It seeks to protect children and prevent gun violence.

Sen. Toomey is being recognized for his work to pass the Manchin-Toomey bill in April 2013 that would have expanded background checks for commercial gun sales.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized by the Sandy Hook Promise organization,” said Sen. Toomey. “The horrendous massacre in Charleston reminds us once again of the pain of Sandy Hook. There are many factors that cause deranged people to commit such heart-wrenching crimes. Sandy Hook Promise addresses several of those factors. I continue to believe strongly that as a nation we can and should do more to prevent guns from getting into the hands of people who have no right to them — criminals and the mentally ill.”