Jill and I are grieving the loss of lives tragically taken by senseless gun violence, and our thoughts are with the survivors whose lives have been shattered. What should have been an exciting back-to-school period in Winder, Georgia, has now transformed into yet another grim reminder of the ongoing gun violence that is fracturing our communities. Students nationwide are being taught how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. This situation cannot be accepted as the norm.
We are actively working with federal, state, and local officials and are thankful to the first responders who apprehended the suspect and averted further tragedy.
Addressing this epidemic of gun violence is deeply personal to me. This commitment led me to sign the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which is the most significant gun safety legislation in decades, and to announce various executive actions on gun safety. I also created the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, headed by Vice President Harris. While we have made substantial strides, this crisis demands even more action.
After years of inaction, it is essential for Republicans in Congress to finally declare that enough is enough and collaborate with Democrats to implement sensible gun safety laws. We must reinstate the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, mandate safe storage practices for firearms, establish universal background checks, and eliminate immunity for gun manufacturers. While these measures will not bring back those who lost their lives today, they can help avert further gun violence from devastating more families.