SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – It's now been one week since the tragic shooting in Newtown Connecticut, and America is starting to seeing some major ripple effects. Over the past seven days, children have refused to go to school, new threats have emerged, and controversial ideas are coming forward to protect our children. Some said the aftermath is putting our nation on pause.
Friday America stood in silence, then bells began to toll. They rang 26 times in cites across the country, to honor the 20 children and six adults shot and killed a week ago at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. One of them was kindergartner Emilie Parker from Ogden.
"Emilie was such a wonderful little girl, she loved everybody," said April Cottle, Emilie’s Aunt.
Now, the ripple of fear from this tragic shooting is affecting children nationwide. Sales for bulletproof backpacks made by a company here in Utah are up 500%.
"It can be used on the back if you're moving away from a threat, it can be pulled to the front, if the threat's in front of you, ideally, it even has the ability even as a shield," said Rich Brand, Amendment II.
Some students are bringing guns to class for protection. One boy at West Kearns Elementary School used it to threaten a fellow student.
"And I said I'm going to go tell, and he said if you go tell, I'm going to kill you," said Isabell Rios, 6th grader, West Kearns Elementary.
Copycat threats of the Sandy Hook shooting have been made at schools in Indiana, South Carolina, and Maryland. Here in Utah, rumors of a threat were reported to Syracuse High School, class was cancelled at Mountain Crest High School, and police put out extra patrols at six schools in West Jordan.
The NRA is now demanding every school across the country, should have an armed guard.
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun," said Wayne LaPierre, National Rifle Association, CEO.
President Obama is calling for new gun control.
"The fact that we can't prevent every act of violence, doesn't mean we can't steadily reduce the violence, and prevent the very worst violence,” said the President.
And families of those killed in Connecticut are attempting to heal.
No ones is feeling the effects of the shooting more than families of the 26 people who died. Saturday the family of Emilie Parker will lay her body to rest. The funeral is private for family and friends only, but if you'd like to line the funeral procession, the public is welcome. The route will begin at the Rock Cliff LDS Stake Center on 7th Street in Ogden, turning north on Monroe Avenue and traveling along Monroe Ave to Evergreen Memorial Park at 100 Monroe Ave in Ogden. The funeral services are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
ABC 4 is told there will be a LIVE broadcast of the funeral for people in community interested in attending the services. That broadcast will be held at the Rock Cliff LDS 6th Ward at 300 Gramercy Avenue in Ogden.
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