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Team 26 Cyclists Riding From Sandy Hook To Capitol To Raise Awareness

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Team 26, a group of cyclists from Newtown, and beyond, will embark Saturday, April 9, on its fourth ride from Sandy Hook to the U.S. Capitol to honor the 20 children and six educators killed on Dec.14, 2012, and to raise awareness of the nation’s gun violence epidemic. 

Twenty-six cyclists will ride from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 9-12. The group rides to honor victims of gun violence and to raise awareness of the public health crisis of gun violence.

 Photo Credit: WitnessforChange
K Reakes
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Team 26 will depart from Newtown’s Edmond Town Hall and their ride will take them through communities throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and conclude at the U.S. Capitol, where they will urge Congress to finally pass commonsense legislation to reduce gun violence.

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn 5th District) U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Newtown First Selectwoman Patricia Llodra, and local gun violence prevention advocates will be on hand to kick off the 2016 Sandy Hook Ride on Washington and to show support for Team 26.

Once the group arrives In Washington, the team will present Blumenthal and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Esty with petitions signed by more than 36,000 Americans in support of legislation to improve safety at colleges and universities by making it more difficult for people to carry concealed weapons onto campus. 

Blumenthal and Murphy will bring a petition to the floor of the Senate, and Esty will bring a petition to the floor of the House of Representatives. 

Other measures the group supports include the following:

  • "Finish the job" and require a background check on all gun sales; 
  • Limit magazines to 10 rounds; 
  • Make gun trafficking a federal crime; including real penalties for “straw buyers”; and 
  • Provide protection when temporary restraining orders are issued in domestic violence cases. 

Some members of the Team are from Newtown, and some of riders have children who went to the Sandy Hook School. The 2016 team includes parents, teachers, and high school students. 

For information about Team 26 click here. 

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