Carolyn McCarthy, a former Long Island MP who passed away last week, left behind a significant legacy in gun control advocacy after experiencing personal tragedy: her husband was killed and her son injured in the 1993 LIRR massacre.
McCarthy, who died at 81, entered politics fueled by the grief of that dreadful day when a shooter killed six people and wounded 19 others. She felt a strong sense of responsibility to speak out for the victims. Before retiring in 2015, she earned the nickname “The Gun Lady” thanks to her nearly two-decade-long commitment to this cause.
On December 7, 1993, the shooter boarded the train at Penn Station and opened fire in a crowded car, targeting around 80 passengers, including McCarthy’s family.
Survivor Tom McDermott, who was shot in the shoulder, recalled the chaos, saying the train aisle was “literally scattered.” Another commuter, Joseph Giugliano, remembered the fear as the gunman approached, trying to kill the woman beside him.
The tragedy claimed the life of Maria Magtoto, a 30-year-old lawyer, who was simply sitting on the train when she was shot. Giugliano described the horrifying moment, realizing that he was staring into the barrel of the gun.
Miraculously, despite sustaining severe injuries, another victim survived. The gunman’s magazine ran dry after firing off 15 rounds, leading some brave passengers to subdue him.
McCarthy’s husband and son were returning home from their daily commute when the shooting occurred, a routine trip that turned into a nightmare.
In the aftermath, authorities discovered disturbing notes in the shooter’s possession, revealing chilling thoughts that seemed to stem from deep-seated hatred.
At the time, such mass shootings were not common in New York, making the event all the more shocking.
The shooter, Colin Ferguson, was found competent to stand trial and chose to defend himself, ultimately receiving a sentence of 315 years.
Now in his 70s, he continues to assert his innocence, claiming that the incident was part of a larger conspiracy.
McCarthy transitioned from Republican to Democrat after taking office in 1997, representing a predominantly conservative district for nearly 20 years. She worked tirelessly to strengthen background checks for gun purchasers and advocated for additional gun control measures before her retirement due to a lung cancer diagnosis.
Her son, Kevin, was gravely injured, with doctors giving him just a 10% chance of survival after being shot in the head. McCarthy recalled the moment she saw him after surgery, feeling a mother’s instinct to ensure his recovery.
Another survivor, Lisa Combatti, despite suffering from the trauma of that day, chose to sit on the same train at the same time every year as a form of defiance against the memory of the attack.
