The father of 6-year-old Jessie McCord Lewis, who was killed in the Sandy Hook massacre, bravely faced pro-gun activists at a gun legislation hearing, only to be heckled for the changes he would like to make in gun-control laws.
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Neil Heslin was one of 1,000 people who attended a hearing before the Gun Violence Prevention Working Group at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford Conn. on Monday to share their views on gun-control.
But when Heslin rose to speak about his “best friend” Jessie, holding a large framed picture of him and his son, dozens of audience members interrupted his speech with insensitive comments and pro-gun ideology.
“I still can’t see why any civilian, anybody in this room in fact, needs weapons of that sort. You’re not going to use them for hunting, even for home protection,” Heslin said.
Pro-gun activists responded by calling out: “Second Amendment!”
Undeterred, Heslin continued. “There are a lot of things that should be changed to prevent what happened.”
Heslin continued to urge lawmakers to improve on mental health options and make gun laws stricter, even suggesting that lawmakers ban assault weapons like the one Adam Lanza used to murder Jesse and 25 other people.
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Heslin talked to the crowd about his son, describing him as a happy child.
A “little cowboy,” Jesse reportedly liked to play with the fake horses at a local Western-themed restaurant. After he was shot and killed by Lanza, a line of police officers on horseback joined the motorcade at the boy’s funeral.
“He was a boy that loved life. Lived it to the fullest…He was my son, he was my buddy, he was my best friend.” Heslin said.
Heartbreaking. How can gun advocates be so insensitive? Watch the video for yourself to see if the activists were out of line for their comments.
SOURCE: Huffington Post/AP
