A special task force of elected town officials recommended on Friday tearing down Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 young children and six adults were shot to death in December, and rebuilding the school on the site of the massacre.
Under the panel's recommendation, the school, which has remained closed since the December 14 shooting rampage in Newtown, would be demolished and reconstructed at an estimated cost of $56 million over the next 17 to 21 months.
Republicans offer 'alternative' gun control measure
After a bipartisan deal which would have increased back ground checks on people who wanted to buy guns failed to pass the US Senate, Republican Senators have been presenting alternative suggestions.
One proposal put forward by Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa focuses on improving mental health records for gun owners and funding "improved school safety measures". But controversially it would also expand some gun owner rights by allowing interstate arms sales.
Rather than restricting the rights of law-abiding Americans, we should be focusing on keeping guns out of the hands of violent criminals, which this legislation accomplishes.
The only way to stop violent crime is to stop violent criminals."
The Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has accused the NRA and gun lobby of "shameful scare tactics", after an amendment which would have expanded background checks on people wanting to buy guns, failed to secure enough of the vote to be put into law.
Opponents of the measure say that said the proposals were an example of government overreach that would infringe on the constitutional right to bear arms.
We must strike a better balance between the right to defend ourselves and the right of every child in America to grow up safe from gun violence.
If tragedy strikes again if innocents are gunned down in a classroom or a theatre or a restaurant I could not live with myself as a father, as a husband, as a grandfather or as a friend knowing that I didn't do everything in my power to prevent.
Facebook forced to remove Sandy Hook tribute pages
Facebook has removed several 'tribute' pages to victims of the Sandy Hook shootings after complaints that they had become inundated by internet trolls and conspiracy theorists.
Echoing complaints already brought by some Sandy Hook families, Connecticut's two senators, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty requested the removal of the offending pages in a letter to Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg.
Donna Soto's tribute page for her daughter Victoria Credit: Facebook
"I understand some people have good intentions,some people say she is a public figure but to me, she is my daughter that was put in this awful position, she would never want to be a public figure and she would not want people making pages in her name.
"I know Vicki better than most and she would hate this."
Jodi Seth, a Facebook spokesperson, said in a statement that the company has been working closely with the families and their representatives to respond quickly to concerns with dedicated staff handling complaints over Sandy Hook pages.
Newtown police chief: US Govt must 'ban assault weapons'
Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe Credit: NBC News
The police chief of the American town where a gunman opened fire in a primary school killing 20 children last December has joined the calls for stricter gun controls.
He said that the gunman, who attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, was better armed than the police that were trying to stop him.
"We never like to think we’re going to be outgunned in any situation we’re dealing with."
He also said that criminal background checks on people buying guns needed to be improved.
The road between Newtown and Monroe has been lined with signs of support for the pupils who escaped the Sandy Hook shootings last month.
The children will return to school, attending the Chalk Hill Middle School in Monroe, Connecticut, which will be re-named after their former school.
Signs of support between Newtown and Monroe Credit: ReutersThe children will attend a new school in Monroe, Connecticut Credit: ReutersSigns seen along the road between Newtown where the children attended school to their new school in Monroe Credit: Reuters
Nearly three weeks ago gunman Adam Lanza killed 20 students and six staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
Lanza killed his mother at their Newtown home that they shared, before the shootings, which ended when Lanza fatally shot himself as police arrived.
