Biden and Harris condemn gun violence after shooting in GA

Photo: Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage

WINDER, GA (ANI) – President Joe Biden expressed his condolences to the victims of a shooting at a local school and called on Republicans to work with Democrats in the U.S. 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 classmate opened fire at Apalachee High School 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 mourn the deaths of those whose lives were cut short by further senseless gun violence, and think of all the survivors whose lives are forever changed. What should have been a joyful back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now become 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 to duck and take cover instead of learning to read and write.”

“We can no longer accept this as business as usual. We are working closely with federal, state and local authorities and are grateful to the first responders who took the suspect into custody and prevented further deaths,” Biden said.

In addition, Biden reiterated his commitment to combating the gun violence epidemic in the United States and highlighted his efforts to address the problem, including signing 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, declaring, “Enough is enough.”

“After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say ‘enough’ and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation. We must once again ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, mandate safe storage of firearms, implement universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. These measures will not bring back the people tragically killed today, but they will help prevent more tragic gun violence from tearing families apart,” Biden said.

Kamala Harris also addressed X and expressed her condolences to those affected by the shooting, calling it a “senseless tragedy.”

“Today, Doug and I mourn the loss of life as a result of gun violence at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Our condolences go out to the students, teachers and families affected by this shooting, and we are grateful to the first responders and police officers on the scene. This is a senseless tragedy – and it doesn’t have to be this way. We must end the epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all,” the Vice President said.

The suspected shooter is now in custody and has been identified as 14-year-old Colt Cray, a student at the school. Two of those killed were students and two were teachers. Law enforcement is still investigating the shooting and the motive behind it.