To the Editor:

We have had far too many moments of silence since Sandy Hook. The North Country's children and communities deserve real action to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our country. We're not alone and we're not helpless.

There are many seemingly simple, yet powerful things we can do today!

More and more of our neighbors are uniting to bring the change we need. The phones in Congress are ringing off the hook with calls for common-sense gun reform that fully respects the Second Amendment, peaceful rallies are growing in numbers in cities across the country, and families and friends are gathering together in their own living rooms to talk about bringing violence prevention programs to their schools. The movement is growing and we must keep growing it.

There is reason to have hope that we can prevent gun violence before it happens through sensible gun safety laws and programs in our schools and communities that help us identify the signs and signals before a shooting happens and intervene.

To keep this hope alive and bring the change we need, I am asking everyone to take two simple actions today. First, call our U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik today at 315-782-3150 and ask that she support gun violence prevention legislation to keep guns out of dangerous hands.

Secondly, Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org and help bring Sandy Hook Promise's no-cost, violence prevention programs to our schools and community.

Scott Allen Bennett

Ogdensburg