Sandy Hook Bike Ride Stops in Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's been more than three years since a shooter stormed Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 20 children and six adults. Since that tragic day, a group of cyclists have been riding hundreds of miles to raise awareness for the need to reduce gun violence.
Marcus Washington has more on the recent arrival of the group called Team 26.
In honor of the victims of gun violence, the cyclists started their day around 10 a.m. at the University of Delaware.
They rolled into Baltimore with a police escort in memory of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, where 26 students lost their lives. Team 26 is on a 400 mile bike ride against gun violence.
The team will make seven stops; Baltimore is day three of a four-day trip.
"Gun violence has touched everyone in this city, either directly or indirectly, including me. And I know that every life that is lost is an opportunity that is lost," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
The road for Team 26 has not been an easy one---and they're not done yet.
"We rode through a snow storm, got wet, had some shivering spells but this movement is all about getting over the hurdles and driving through it and making it to the next destination," said one rider.
Team 26 supports measures to curb gun violence, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, limiting magazines to 10 rounds, making gun trafficking a federal crime, including real penalties for straw buyers and providing protection when temporary restraining orders are issued in domestic violence cases.
"When you hug a mom who's lost a child due to gun violence, whether you're in Newtown or in Baltimore or in Chicago or in Detroit," said the rider. "It's the same hug and the problem is, I'm getting way too many of those hugs."
Team 26 will meet up in College Park and ride on towards DC, starting at 11:30 Tuesday morning.
Team 26 is scheduled to arrive in DC for a rally at Faith Presbyterian Church at 1:30. Their final stop is the US Capitol at 3 p.m.
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