Newtown mom wants voice in gun control discussion

Thursday January 10, 2013 8:00 PM

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — The mother of a child shot dead in last month's Connecticut school massacre says she's disappointed she hasn't had an opportunity to be heard in the discussion over gun control in Washington, D.C.

Veronique Pozner's 6-year-old son, Noah, was among 20 first-graders killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown. She says she's "puzzled" why she hasn't received more information about legislative proposals.

Pozner made the remarks Thursday in a statement released by her brother, Alexis Haller, who says he asked White House officials if victims' families would be informed of initiatives stemming from the massacre but never heard back.

A White House spokesman says the families will have the chance to share their views before President Barack Obama makes any decisions.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

The mother of one of the children killed in last month's massacre at a Connecticut elementary school said Thursday she is disappointed she hasn't had an opportunity to be heard in the discussion over gun control in Washington.

Veronique Pozner's 6-year-old son, Noah, was among 20 first-graders killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown.

"As the mother of a six year old victim of a cold-blooded massacre of school children, I am puzzled and disappointed by the fact that I have had no information or opportunity to be heard regarding the upcoming legislative proposal in Washington," she said in a statement.

The statement was released by Veronique Pozner's brother, Alexis Haller, who said a White House official he met during President Barack Obama's visit to Newtown encouraged him to reach out if he had any concerns. Haller said he asked officials earlier this month if victims' families would be informed of initiatives stemming from the massacre, but he never heard back.

A message seeking comment was left with the White House.

Haller said the family has ideas it wants to share with the White House and it wants to be part of the discussion about the response to the Dec. 14 massacre, in which the gunman also killed six adults at the school before committing suicide.

"I think the families have an important voice, and I think those voices need to be heard by the people who are proposing the reforms," said Haller, who stressed he was speaking only for his family.

The Obama administration is assembling proposals to curb gun violence that would include a ban on sales of assault weapons, limits on high-capacity ammunition magazines and universal background checks for gun buyers.

©2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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