By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – American President Joe Biden said he and the First Lady were praying for all victims of Monday’s deadly shooting at a Christian school in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, and he urged legislators to pass “commonsense gun safety laws.”
“Today, families in Madison, Wisconsin, are grieving the loss of those who were killed and wounded at Abundant Life Christian School. It’s shocking and unconscionable,” said the president in a statement seen by Worthy News.
Biden spoke as news emerged that at least three people, including the shooter, a teenage student, and a teacher, died while several others were injured.
The Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said four other students were still being treated at local hospitals, with two in critical condition.
Barnes identified the suspect as a 15-year-old female student. He said the shooter died by apparent suicide. He also said the shooting occurred in a study hall and was first reported to police by a second-grade student. Police arrived within four minutes, he added.
President Biden said the bloodshed underscored that “We need Congress to act. Now.”
The president noticed that “From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don’t receive attention – it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence. We cannot continue to accept it as normal.”
IMPROVING CLASSROOM SAFETY
The president stressed, “Every child deserves to feel safe in their classroom. Students across our country should be learning how to read and write – not having to learn how to duck and cover.”
He added that his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, “and I are praying for all the victims today, including the teacher and teenage student who were killed and those who sustained injuries.”
Biden, a Catholic, stressed, “We are grateful for the first responders who quickly arrived on the scene, and the [Federal Bureau of Investigation] FBI is supporting local law enforcement efforts. At my direction, my team has contacted local officials to offer further support as needed.”
Biden, who will step down as president on January 20, said his administration “has taken aggressive action to combat the gun violence epidemic. We passed the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, I have taken more executive action to reduce gun violence than any other President in history, and I created the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.”
However, he acknowledged that “more is needed” in a nation where there are more firearms available than the entire population of roughly 346 million. “Congress must pass commonsense gun safety laws: Universal background checks. A national red flag law. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden said.
“We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart.”
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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