US Gun Culture and Global Views of Connecticut Shooting

The World

The first funerals were held Monday in Newtown, Connecticut. Two of the youngest victims of Friday’s horrific school shooting – both 6-year-old boys – were laid to rest.

Police continue to comb through the crime scene at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance said today that the investigation will be thorough – and long.

“We know as investigators that the people of Connecticut, the people of this town of Newtown, want to know what happened. We’re going to do that. We’re going to provide them any information and all information. We’ll paint a crystal clear picture as much as we possible can,” Vance said.

Vance also told reporters that some of the details about what happened remain “too difficult to discuss.”

What many around the globe are discussing following Friday’s shooting in Newtown is America’s gun culture.

David Hemenway is at the Harvard School of Public Health.

He’s done a lot of research about gun ownership and violence around the globe – and on how the US compares with other industrialized nations.

Will you support The World today?

The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!