By adbnu564 Washington: President Joe Biden has strongly condemned the shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, where a tragic incident resulted in the deaths of at least four people, including two students. Nine others were injured when a fellow student opened fire, CNN reported. Biden expressed deep condolences and emphasized the urgent need for action on gun safety legislation.
“This shooting is another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart,” Biden said in a White House statement. He lamented that students across the country are now learning to “duck and cover” rather than focusing on their education.
The President criticized the normalization of gun violence and called for immediate action, stating, “We cannot continue to accept this as normal.” He praised the first responders who managed to apprehend the suspect and prevent further casualties.
Biden reaffirmed his commitment to addressing gun violence, citing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act as a significant step forward. He also highlighted his executive actions on gun safety and the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, led by Vice President Kamala Harris.
The President urged Republicans to join Democrats in passing comprehensive gun safety measures, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, mandatory safe storage of firearms, universal background checks, and the removal of legal immunity for gun manufacturers. “After decades of inaction, Republicans must finally say ‘enough is enough,'” Biden said.
Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed her condolences on X, calling the shooting a “senseless tragedy.” She emphasized the need to end the epidemic of gun violence and commended the first responders and law enforcement involved.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced on X that he has mobilized all available state resources to respond to the incident and urged Georgians to pray for the safety of students and educators. He pledged continued cooperation with local, state, and federal partners as the investigation proceeds.
The suspected gunman, identified as 14-year-old Colt Cray, a student at Apalachee High School, is currently in custody. The shooting has resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers. Authorities are investigating the motive and any possible connections to a phone threat received earlier in the day, which warned of shootings at multiple schools.
The US has experienced at least 385 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, averaging over 1.5 incidents per day. This stark statistic underscores the urgent need for comprehensive gun safety reforms.