Biden, Harris Condemn Gun Violence After GA Shooting
Photo: Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage
WINDER, GA (ANI) – Expressing condolences for the victims of a shooting incident at a school here, President Joe Biden has called on Republicans to work with Democrats in the US Congress to pass gun safety legislation to help prevent future gun violence in the United States.
At least four people, including two students, were killed and nine others injured when a fellow student opened fire Apalachee High School here on September 4.
Biden described the shooting incident as “another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.”
“Jill (Biden) and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all the survivors whose lives are forever changed. What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
The US president lamented that students across the country are “learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write.”
“We cannot continue to accept this as normal. We are closely coordinating with officials at the federal, state and local levels and are grateful for the first responders who brought the suspect into custody and prevented further loss of life,” Biden said.
Further, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the gun violence epidemic in the US and highlighted his efforts to address the issue, including the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Biden called on Republicans to work with Democrats in Congress to pass gun safety legislation to help prevent future gun violence and stated that ‘enough is enough.’
“After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say ‘enough is enough’ and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation. We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but they will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart,” Biden said.
Kamala Harris also took to X and expressed condolences for the people who are impacted by this shooting and describe it as a “senseless tragedy.”
“Today, Doug and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short by gun violence at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Our hearts are with the students, teachers, and families impacted by this shooting, and we are grateful to the first responders and law enforcement on the scene. This is a senseless tragedy — and it does not have to be this way. We must end the epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for,” the Vice President said.
Meanwhile, the suspected gunman is in custody and was identified as 14-year-old Colt Cray, a student at the school. Two of those killed were students and two were teachers. Law enforcement agencies are still investigating the shooting and the motive behind it.
