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Joe Biden reacts to Wisconsin school shooting incident (Picture credit: AP/Reuters)
US President Joe Biden condemned the shooting at
Abundant Life Christian School
in Madison,
Wisconsin
, which killed a teacher and a teenage student and injured others. He called for immediate action from Congress on gun safety legislation.
Biden expressed grief for the victims and their families. He stressed the need to protect children from gun violence.
“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,” Biden said in a White House statement.
“We need Congress to act. Now," he added.
The President pointed to other school shootings, including those in Newtown, Uvalde, and Parkland, and stressed the widespread nature of gun violence impacting children.
“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. 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.”
Biden urges Congress to pass stronger gun laws
Biden said that his administration has implemented gun safety measures, including passing legislation and creating a White House Office of
Gun Violence Prevention
. He also noted his executive actions aimed at reducing gun violence. However, he reiterated the need for Congress to pass further laws, including universal background checks, a national red flag law, and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“My 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. But more is needed. Congress must pass commonsense gun safety laws: Universal background checks. A national red flag law. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”
President offers support to victims' families
The President offered support to local officials and expressed gratitude for the first responders.
“Jill and I are praying for all the victims today, including the teacher and teenage student who were killed and those who sustained injuries. We are grateful for the first responders who quickly arrived on the scene, and the FBI is supporting local law enforcement efforts. At my direction, my team has reached out to local officials to offer further support as needed.”
He concluded by saying, “We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart.”
Wisconsin school shooting
A shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday morning left two people dead and at least six injured. The suspect, a juvenile believed to be a student, was also found deceased inside the school.
Police responded to the active shooter report at 10:57 am local time. Police chief Shon F Barnes confirmed that officers did not fire their weapons. The injured individuals sustained varying degrees of injury. Barnes stated, “We are praying for the kids, educators and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.”
The school, which serves approximately 390 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, shares a campus with a church and an early childhood education center.
Wisconsin governor Tony Evers released a statement saying, “We are praying for the kids, educators and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.”
