Numerous elected officials and advocates are responding to the massacre of at least 26 people, 18 of them children, at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. We?ll post them as we receive them.
From Gov. Andrew Cuomo:
?I was shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School this morning in Newtown, Connecticut. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the innocent victims ? many of whom were young children ? whose lives were claimed by this senseless and horrific act of violence. During times of such unthinkable tragedy, all New Yorkers stand together with the people of our neighboring state to grieve the loss of life and help bear the pain and anguish that will be felt by so many in the weeks, months, and years to come.
?While we don?t have all the facts and our focus must be on the victims, this is yet another senseless and horrific act of violence involving guns. We as a society must unify and once and for all crack down on the guns that have cost the lives of far too many innocent Americans. Let this terrible tragedy finally be the wake-up call for aggressive action and I pledge my full support in that effort.?
From Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson:
?Our hearts go out to the children, parents, and community of Newtown, Connecticut. As a father, this is one of my worst fears and we must all work together to make sure these terrible events never happen again. Enough is enough.?
From Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrific shooting in Newton, Connecticut this morning. Our schools should be a safe and nurturing environment for our children and parents should never have to fear for their safety when they are learning. If ever there is a time to finally have a serious discussion about our country?s culture of violence that time is now.
From Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein:
?My thoughts and prayers are with the children, families, and victims of today?s devastating tragedy in Connecticut. Today?s news is a sorrowful reminder that horrifying acts of gun violence are all too common in our streets, our homes, and our schools. Heinous acts such as this must remain at the front of our minds as we continue to reevaluate the place of guns in our state and our society.?
From Attorney General Eric Schneiderman:
?Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the innocent victims of today?s horrific massacre. We stand with the people of Connecticut during this moment of unspeakable tragedy.?
From Rep. Charles Rangel:
?I join America to mourn for the innocent lives that were tragically taken away in this devastating shooting. We send our prayers for the parents and families of the victims as we share our grief over their loss. I stand with the nation in showing full support to the Newtown community as they cope with the shock and pain.
I strongly condemn this heinous crime that killed and wounded so many young beautiful children, as well as teachers and educators. Such abominable act has no place in our country. We cannot tolerate and allow a handful of people to terrorize our communities. ?
From Education Commissioner John King:
?There are no words to express the tremendous sense of loss and sadness we all feel right now. Our schools are meant to be safe havens where children can learn, free from fear and violence. On behalf of the entire Board of Regents and the State Education Department, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this horrific tragedy, as well as to their families and loved ones.?
From Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos:
There simply aren?t words that can express the sadness and shock of the senseless tragedy that took place this morning in Newtown, Connecticut. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims of this heinous attack that has brought such heartbreak and grief to people in Connecticut and across the country.
From President Barack Obama, as delivered in a White House briefing:
This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families.
We?ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would ? as a parent. And that was especially true today. I know there?s not a parent in America who doesn?t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.
The majority of those who died today were children ? beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them ? birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers ? men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.
So our hearts are broken today ? for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children?s innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain.
As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it?s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago ? these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. And we?re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.
This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we?ll tell them that we love them, and we?ll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight. And they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans. And I will do everything in my power as President to help.
Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need ? to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours.
May God bless the memory of the victims and, in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.
Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/172720/cuomo-others-respond-to-connecticut-massacre/
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