Connecticut shootings: Obama aims to prevent further gun massacres

President Barack Obama has expressed that America needs to change, following the shootings at the Newtown school on Friday

15:52 17 December 2012

Following the tragic death of 20 children and six adults on Friday, after gunman Adam Lanza, 20, opened fire in Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama has declared that the country needs to change. Since the shootings, there has been much attention on America’s gun laws.

 

Mr. Obama attended a vigil at a Newtown school which was held over the weekend in memory of the victims. Many people gathered, including the victims’ families, as well religious leaders, according to reports. Mourners paid their respects to the children and adults who lost their lives during the gun massacre in Connecticut.

 

During a speech there, Mr. Obama expressed that he would use “whatever powers this office holds” in order to prevent “more tragedies like this” from happening in the future. The President of the US offered support to the town.

 

With much attention now surrounding the use of guns in the country, Mr. Obama said: “We will have to change.”

 

The American leader made reference to the fact that his reign in office has now seen four gun massacres take place, with a shooting in a school in Virginia taking place in April 2007, leaving 32 people dead.

 

The Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg reportedly said on Sunday that Mr. Obama should look to the issue of gun control in America. Based on a report by Fox News, Congressman Louie Gohmert thinks the issue is that there are not enough guns.

 

The Principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School was one of the known adults to have died as a result of Friday’s shootings in Connecticut.

 

Gun-man Lanza, who also died, is suspected of taking his own life after shooting his victims in Newtown.