Carolyn McCarthy, a fierce proponent of gun control who represented parts of Long Island in Congress for nearly 20 years, has died.
She was 81.
McCarthy’s death was shared by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and first reported by Newsday.
“Rest in peace, good and faithful servant,” Suozzi wrote.
McCarthy’s husband, Dennis, was killed and her son was seriously wounded in the 1993 LIRR mass shooting that left five other people dead.
She “channeled her grief and loss into advocacy for change, becoming one of the most dedicated gun violence prevention advocates,” Suozzi said, which led her to Congress where she represented Nassau County’s Fourth District for 18 years.