The father of the 20-year-old student who was killed in the drive-by UC Santa Barbara shooting that claimed the lives of seven people blamed “craven irresponsible politicians” and the NRA for his son’s death.
Richard Martinez says his son Christopher Martinez was one of those killed in the shooting that claimed seven in the Isla Vista area near UCSB on Friday night, according to The Huffington Post. In an emotional outburst, the father erupted and asked, “When will this insanity stop? When will enough people say, ‘Stop this madness!’ Too many have died. We should say to ourselves, ‘Not one more!’”
“Our son Christopher and six others are dead,” Richard Martinez told reporters gathered outside a sheriff’s station for a news conference the day after the shootings near the University of California, Santa Barbara, where the 20-year-old son was a sophomore. “You don’t think it’ll happen to your child until it does.”
Authorities determined that Richard Martinez’s son, Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, was the last of seven people killed by suspected shooter Elliot Rodger before he apparently shot and killed himself.
Mr Martinez grew angrier as he spoke about the NRA, and the lack of stiffer gun laws in this country.
“The talk about gun rights. What about Chris’ right to live?” Martinez said. “When will enough people say: ‘Stop this madness! We don’t have to live like this! Too many people have died!”
According to the Associated Press , “Martinez says he talked to his son just 45 minutes before he was shot and killed inside a deli. Martinez says his son’s roommate tried to revive him, but he died at the scene.”
“Chris was a really great kid,” Martinez said. “Ask anyone who knew him. His death has left our family lost and broken.”
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