Carolyn McCarthy, former N.Y. congresswoman and staunch gun control advocate, dies at 81
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Source: CBS News
Former New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, known as a prominent advocate for gun control, has died at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. McCarthy, a Democrat, served the 4th Congressional District, which covers central and southern Nassau County, from 1997 until 2015. She left office after announcing she would not seek reelection.
Following the death of her husband in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road massacre, McCarthy made gun control her top priority in the House, fighting to curb the availability of guns and large ammunition magazines. "Anything I can do to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else, I will give my life to do that," McCarthy once told CBS News New York's Jennifer McLogan.
McCarthy had an improbable political career, as fate changed her life. She was a nurse and a registered Republican from Mineola when she was thrust into the national spotlight 32 years ago. Gunman Colin Ferguson shot and killed her husband, Dennis, and five others on an LIRR train, and wounded 19 more, including her only child, Kevin. Her son recovered and is now married with two children. He said his mother told him, "I'm not going to be your mother. I'm going to be your nurse," adding those words of optimism inspired him to walk again and testify against Ferguson. McCarthy emerged from that emotional trial as an activist, and then, with no political experience, she defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Frisa and was on her way to Washington.
…McCarthy said she was embraced and throughout her 18-year career helped pass 15 pieces of major legislation through three presidents. She was also devoted to making changes in education and health care, with some voters telling her she had inspired them to become nurses. "I get chills when I think about how many lives I was able to change because God put me on this path," McCarthy. "I just wanted to make a difference." In January, President Biden honored McCarthy with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor in the United States.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/carolyn-mccarthy-ny-congresswoman-dies/#
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