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PRESS STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES

On the morning of Christmas Eve 2012, our families should have been busy preparing for the holidays. Instead, we were mourning the tragic loss of two loved ones, and praying for the survival and recovery of two others. The unimaginable and horrifying events of that day have altered our lives forever.

We lost Mike Chiapperini, a devoted husband and father to two young girls and a grown son who is a volunteer firefighter. Mike devoted his life to public service as a lieutenant in the Webster Police Department and was a volunteer firefighter with the West Webster Fire Department for more than 20 years. He served as a mentor to young men and women interested in firefighting. Most of all, Mike loved spending time with his family, whether it was family outings, road trips with his son, or reading to his girls at bedtime. Mike was 43 years old.

We lost Tomasz Kaczowka, a loving son and brother, who was just 19 years old. Tomasz worked as a 911 dispatcher while pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a full-time firefighter. Tomasz selflessly volunteered for duty that Christmas Eve so that his colleagues who were married and had children could be with their families. Tomasz was adored by all who were privileged to know him.

Joe Hofstetter is a devoted public servant who serves as a full-time firefighter in Rochester and a volunteer firefighter with the West Webster Fire Department. Joe always wanted to be a firefighter. Joe survived the shootings but he has suffered serious, life-changing injuries.

Ted Scardino also has served the public as a volunteer firefighter for seventeen years in two different fire departments. Ted is fortunate to have survived but, like Joe, his injuries have been life changing. Joe and Ted dearly miss Mike and Tomasz, their close friends and colleagues.

Originally we believed that Mike, Tomasz, Ted and Joe had fallen victim to yet another random act of violence, like those we read about all too often. We believed that this was simply the act of a deranged madman who sickeningly lured volunteer firefighters into a trap. We believed that sometimes people are at the wrong place at the wrong time and there is nothing that could have prevented what occurred.

But as time went by, new and very troubling facts emerged. These facts suggest that the loss we have endured could have been avoided. If only the store had acted responsibly.

We, as a group, believe in the rights of gun owners conferred by the 2nd Amendment. Some of us, in fact, own guns and we believe in legal, responsible gun ownership.

But we also believe that companies who make it their business to sell guns must do so in a responsible and lawful manner. And when sellers fall short in their responsibility, they should be held accountable. We have felt first-hand what happens when a seller of guns has insufficient training and procedures. We also believe that the straw purchaser must be held accountable in a civil court in addition to criminally.

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Two of us survived but have suffered injuries that will be with us for the rest of our lives. Two were not so lucky and we, their families and friends, must endure the unimaginable loss of Mike and Tomasz.

We bring this case with the hope that something positive will come of this tragedy. That through legal action we can help prevent other families from suffering a similar fate.