President Barack Obama pauses as he delivers a speech during an interfaith vigil for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, at Newtown High School in Newtown, Conn. A gunman walked into the elementary school on Friday and opened fire, killing 26 people, including 20 children. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
"Because what choice do we have?" a somber Obama said at a Sunday evening vigil in the grieving community of Newtown, Conn. "We can't accept events like this as routine. Are we really prepared to say that we're powerless in the face of such carnage? That the politics are too hard?"
The newly re-elected president offered few specifics about how he planned to proceed, saying only that he will engage with law enforcement, mental health professionals, parents and educators in the coming weeks. Just days after the shooting at an elementary school, Obama is already facing pressure from fellow Democrats and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to tackle gun control legislation, a contentious issue he avoided as he sought a second term.
But Friday's shooting, which left 20 children and eight adults dead, appears to have spurred some soul-searching by Obama, who told Connecticut's governor that Friday was the most difficult day of his presidency. Speaking to families of the victims and first responders, Obama said Sunday that he had been reflecting on whether the country was doing enough to give its children "the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose."
"And if we're honest with ourselves, the answer is no. We're not doing enough, and we will have to change," Obama said.
Sunday marked the fourth time in Obama's presidency that he has traveled to a community shaken by a mass shooting. Just this summer, he made a similar visit to Aurora, Colo., where a dozen people were killed in a movie theater attack.
Drawing on his past experiences, Obama said he was mindful that mere words would not be enough to heal the depths of Newtown's sorrow.
"I can only hope that it helps for you to know that you are not alone in your grief," Obama said during the vigil, which followed his private meeting with families of the victims.
The president closed his remarks by reading the first names of the kids, slowly, in the most wrenching moment of the night. Cries and sobs filled the room.
Said Obama of the girls and boys who died: "God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory."
Inside the room, children held stuffed teddy bears and dogs. The smallest kids sat on their parents' laps.
There were tears and hugs, but also smiles and squeezed arms. Mixed with disbelief was a sense of a community reacquainting itself all at once.
One man said it was less mournful, more familial. Some kids chatted easily with their friends. The adults embraced each other in support.
"We're halfway between grief and hope," said Curt Brantl, whose daughter was in the library of the elementary school when the shootings occurred. She was not harmed.
Police and firefighters got hugs and standing ovations when they entered. So did Obama.
"We needed this," said the Rev. Matt Crebbin, senior minister of the Newtown Congregational Church. "We needed to be together to show that we are together and united."
The shootings have restarted a debate in Washington about what politicians can to do help — gun control or otherwise. Obama has called for "meaningful action" to prevent killings.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Sunday she will introduce legislation next year to ban new assault weapons, as well as big clips, drums and strips of more than 10 bullets.
Police say the gunman, Adam Lanza, was carrying an arsenal of ammunition big enough to kill just about every student in the school if given enough time. He massacred 20 students and six teachers and administrators before shooting himself in the head just as he heard police drawing near, authorities said.
A Connecticut official said the gunman's mother was found dead in her pajamas in bed, shot four times in the head with a.22-caliber rifle. The killer then went to the school with guns he took from his mother and began blasting his way through the building.
"There is no blame to be laid on us but there is a great burden and a great challenge that we emerge whole," First Select Woman Patricia Llodra said. "It is a defining moment for our town, but it does not define us."
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AP White House Correspondent Ben Feller contributed to this report.
individuals.
The problem that needs to be addressed is mental illness. This individual probably had he aptitude to build a bomb and kill many more of the children. Do we ban fertilizer sales and other common household items that can be used to make a bomb.
No, the gun control advocates, including the mainstream media simply use using this tragedy to further their own agenda. Their motives are ill conceived and wrought with ignorance.
1. Look around, how many assault weapons are already on the street? As long as they are on the street I want the ability to own my own, in case I am confronted by a criminal or someone who wishes harm to me or my family.
2.In the unlikely event we are ever invaded our country is not prepared to fight a US invasion. Unless citizens are armed and armed well we will be quickly taken over. While unlikely, I'd rather have the peace of mind knowing I could once again protect my family.
3. An armed militia in the event of a government overthrow. While this may seem unlikely, it is possible. It seems more ever-present today than ever. Once again I will protect my family and my community. If you don't beleieve it can happen, read about the American Revolution and the US Civil War, then look at the current Arab Spring, look at the Occupy Movement, think about the Tea Party if they did really choose to become violent.
As has always been said, "From my cold dead hands"!
The shootings that have occured in our country are mental health issues that have been worsening for the past decade. Unless this is addressed these things will continue. If you think that can't happen here, I suggest you talk to medical personnel in this area and let them make you aware of the people that are now living amongst us that were in NWGRH. Crazies are walking the streets of Rome, Lindale , Silver Creek and Cave Spring. They might even live next door to you. Group homes are being established all over this county and a majority of those people are crazier than betsy-bugs!
To answer your question about giving up a portion of my Second Amendment rights to bring back those kids, the answer is no. Those kids are gone. Giving up my rights is not going to bring them back. Giving up my rights wouldn't have prevented them from being killed. However, what would have saved them was a well-trained and armed staff greeting the gunman at the front door and returning fire.
In fact, the knowledge that fire would be returned would likely have dissuaded the gunman from attempting the massacre in the first place.
You'll notice that he didn't shoot up a military base or a police station or a gun store or a hunting supply store or a sport shooting event or a gun show. He chose the school because he knew that he would face zero armed resistance and that his victims would be defenseless.
It's amazing that these concepts have to be explained each and every time something like this occurs.
Another example, search the numbers of non-white on non-white murders last year, then when you find out how numerous they were, see if you can remember one of them being reported. Then think Trayvon. The Press are as shameless as the Democrats and mouth-breathing Americans nod and point at their television screens proclaiming "yep, yep, umm hmmm, yep"
We must not conflate mental illness with violence. The APA has reported that the vast majority of individuals who commit violent acts do not suffer from mental illnesses. Furthermore, those who suffer from mental illness are significantly more likely to be victims of violent acts, rather than perpetrators. We must resist the urge to stigmatize those with mental illnesses by associating mental illness with violence after every national tragedy.