Calls for Tougher Gun Control Laws After Newtown School Massacr

7/30/2019 Calls for Tougher Gun Control Laws After Newtown School Massacr

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NEWS

Tragic ... victims

Shock, fury and shame at America's Dunblane Obama: We're not doing enough, we must

change

THESE are the innocents of Americas Dunblane whose names were read out one by one by

President Barack Obama as he vowed to clampdown on his nation's deadly guns culture.

Obama said he would use whatever power he has to prevent more shootings like Fridays

rampage by Adam Lanza happening again.

for tougher gun control laws after Newtown school massacre http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4701187/Calls-for-

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The President has come under pressure to bring in strict gun control laws after Lanza murdered 20

children and six staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Obama said: No laws can eliminate evil from the world but that cant be an excuse for inaction.

Surely we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take then we have an obligation

to try.

"In the coming weeks I will use whatever power this office holds in an effort to prevent more

tragedies like this.

His emotional speech set up a battle with the pro-gun lobby in the nation as he prepared to fight for

new laws.

The President added: This is our first job caring for our children. Thats how as a society we will

be judged.

"Are we really doing enough to keep our children safe from harm?

If we are honest with ourselves the answer is No, we are not doing enough. And we will have to

change.


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Loss ... little Olivia Engel, 6, was going to play an angel in the upcoming nativity play at Newtowns mainCatholic church

Reuters


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The President read the names of the 20 children killed in the tragedy. He also paid tribute to the six

teachers who sacrificed their lives for their pupils.

He said: I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depth of your sorrow or heal your

wounded hearts.

Newtown you are not alone. As the difficult days have unfolded you have also inspired us with

stories of strength and sacrifice.

"We know that when danger arrived in the halls of Sandy Hook the school staff did not flinch, did not

hesitate.

They responded as we all hope we might respond in such circumstances - with courage and with

love. Giving their lives to protect the children in their care.

There were other teachers who reassured their students buy saying: Wait for the good guys. They

are coming. And we know the good guys came.

"Then there were the school children helping one another. One child even trying to encourage the

grown ups by saying: "I know karate. So its ok Ill lead the way out."


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Stunned ... weeping copAFP

Horrified anti-gun campaigners said Americas citizens MUST now abandon their centuries-old right

to bear arms in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre.

They begged President Obama to bring in strict gun control laws immediately to stop maniacs like

Lanza having such easy access to weapons.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was scathing about Obamas pledge for meaningful action on


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gun control.

He said: Calling for meaningful action is not enough. We need immediate action. Weve heard

rhetoric before.


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Killer ... Lanza


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What we have not seen is leadership not from the White House and not from Congress. That

must end today.

Mark Kelly, whose politician wife Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, said: This time our

response must consist of more than regret, sorrow and condolence.

Connecticuts Congressman John Larson warned: To do nothing in the face of continuous assaults

on our children is to be complicit in those assaults.

The grieving states Governor Dan Malloy backed a proposal to bring in a ban on assault weapons.

He said: You dont hunt deer with these things.

But despite the outrage over the murder of the six and seven-year-olds in Connecticut, pro-gun

activists were defiant. Kevin Starrett of the Oregon Firearms Federation said: Evil people do evil

things and no laws will change that. Gun control does not work.

The calls came as the first funerals for the victims of Sandy Hook are set to take place today.

Six-year-old Noah Pozner will be buried at the BNai Israel Cemetery, while Jack Pinto, also six, is to

be buried in the Newtown Village Cemetery later.

Obama will face a huge battle against the influential pro-gun lobby if he tries to force through

controls.


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Pledge ... ObamaAssociated Press

But many pundits believe he will take on the fight because he cannot stand again for the

presidency and so does not fear a gun-owning voter backlash. The second amendment of the US

constitution guarantees a citizens right to bear arms for their protection and there are said to be

89 privately-owned firearms for every 100 people.

It has been calculated that Americans own around 270 million guns.

Gun laws vary from state to state. In California guns can be sold only through licensed dealers.

Would-be buyers must wait ten days to get their hands on a gun so they can be checked out.

But in Arizona adults without a criminal record can turn up at a dealers with ID and get a firearm on

the spot.

The National Rifle Association, largest of the gun lobbies, has fought long and hard against tighter

controls. When Obama became president they feared a crackdown. But many states have relaxed

their gun laws in recent years. Virginia and New Mexico now let people take guns into bars, while

Texas and Utah gave citizens the right to carry concealed weapons in schools.


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Hardline ... gun owners proclaim their rights

In Michigan on Friday the day Lanza went on the rampage a law was passed allowing

concealed weapons in schools, churches and hospitals.

In 2009 there were 9,146 gun-related murders in the US. On a typical day around 100 people are

shot. American children are 13 times more likely to be killed with a gun than those elsewhere.

Since Obama came to power there have been eleven mass shootings.

In November 2009, Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan shot dead 13 people at Fort Hood,

Texas.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was among 17 gunned down in January 2011 in Tucson,

Arizona. She survived but six others died.


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Celebrated ... weapons right

In July James Holmes killed 12 and injured 58 in a rampage at a cinema in Aurora, Colorado.

But none of those tragedies shook America like the Sandy Hook massacre.

More chilling details of Fridays murders were revealed yesterday.

Connecticuts chief medical examiner H Wayne Carver said the children he examined had been

shot between three and 11 times. He added: I have been at this more than a third of a century. Thisis the worst I have seen.

Police said they found the bodies of 14 children and teacher Lauren Rousseau huddled together in

a heap.


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Supporter ... of gun laws

An injured boy was pulled from the pile of bodies after officers heard moaning. He died on the way

to hospital.

Meanwhile the gun madness continued across in America yesterday.

A man was arrested in Newport Beach, California, after firing off 50 shots in a shopping mall parking

lot.

In Cedar Lake, Indiana, a man with 47 guns was arrested after threatening to go on a rampage at a

nearby school.

- AROUND 500 people were evacuated from a church in Newtown following a bomb threat. The

funerals of eight of Lanzas victims will take place at the church.


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Badge ... promoting firearms

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Calls for Tougher Gun Control Laws After Newtown School Massacr