Officials React To Mass School Shooting In Newtown, Connecticut
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Reaction is pouring in regarding the mass shooting at a western Connecticut elementary school on Friday morning.
At least 26 are dead including 18 students following a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, which is in Fairfield County.
Photos: Newtown School Massacre
Officials from Connecticut and beyond are expressing their shock and horror.
Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (delivered to the press in Newtown)
"A tragedy of unspeakable terms played itself out in this community. The lieutenant governor and I have been spoken to in an attempt that we might be prepared for something like this playing itself out in our state. You can never be prepared for this kind of incident. What has happened, what has transpired at that school building, will leave a mark on this community and every family impacted. I only ask that all of our fellow citizens here in the United States and around the world who have already offered their assistance remember all of the victims in their prayers. Earlier today, a number of our citizens, beautiful children had their life taken away from them, as well as adults whose responsibility it was to educate and supervise those children. The perpetrator of the crime is dead."
Connecticut St. Sen. Jose Peralta
"My heart goes out to the victims. I extend my condolences to the loved ones of all those senselessly gunned down. I can't think of a more sickening tragedy than the cold-blooded mass murder of children and the adults caring for them. The blood stain of gun of violence will only grow larger until we resolve, at every level of government, to bring common sense and sanity to our laws governing firearms availability, sales and possession."
Connecticut U.S. Rep Jim Himes
"Words cannot express the sadness and horror I feel at the horrendous shootings in Newtown. As father to two young girls, I don't know how life would go on after the murder of my child or one of their teachers. But if community means anything, the children of Sandy Hook Elementary School are our children, as were the children of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Aurora . I hope and pray that the flood of sympathy and condolences offered to the victims and survivors of this unspeakable crime will ignite the dedication and ingenuity of our nation to end this scourge of violence.
President Barack Obama (delivered in the White House press briefing room)
"This afternoon, I spoke with Gov. Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Gov. 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, to care for the victims, to 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, 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. 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, which is hug our children a little tighter and we'll tell that 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 memories of the victims. In the words of scripture, 'Heal the broken hearted and bind up their wounds.'"
New York 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."
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Today's shooting at a Newton, Conn. elementary school is a tragedy of national proportions. Once again, a gunman has slaughtered innocent people in a public place-and the shocking toll, 26 dead, includes 18 young children. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these victims."
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer
"I am horrified and sickened by the tragedy in Newtown. My heart breaks for the families of all the victims. On behalf of the residents of Hoboken, we extend our deepest sympathy to the community of Newtown for their tremendous loss. The City of Hoboken will continue to assist the Connecticut State Police in any way requested."
New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald
"America is a place where people should be able to send their children to school - whether a college or an elementary school - and know that they are safe, but sadly once again our nation has been shocked by senseless gun violence. I grieve for the victims of this nightmarish tragedy. I urge all New Jerseyans to say a pray for them and to hug their own children a bit tighter and longer tonight. And I send my condolences to the friends and family of those lost on this heartbreaking day."
New York U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer
"The horror of what happened is beyond words and leaves a permanent lump in your throat. To senselessly lose so many innocent lives breaks your heart. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who lost a loved one today, to all who are injured, and to those that survived. The people of New York will help in any way we can as our fellow citizens struggle to comprehend today's events. Perhaps an awful tragedy like this will bring us together so we can do what it takes to prevent this horror from being repeated again."
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli
"In the face of yet another tragedy of gun violence, I join all New Yorkers in extending my heartfelt condolences to the Connecticut families, friends and community of those affected by today's senseless murders. This unthinkable act occurred in a place where our children should feel safe. As a nation, we must work together to prevent such horrendous acts."
New Jersey U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg
"This is a day of great sadness in America, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families. This latest shooting tragedy is an unthinkable act of violence carried out against young children and innocent people. Americans are sick and tired of these attacks on our children and neighbors and they are sick and tired of nothing being done in Washington to stop the bloodshed. If we do not take action to address gun violence, shooting tragedies like this will continue. As President Obama said, we must act now 'regardless of the politics.'"
New York U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel
"As a father of three, I am horrified by the violence committed against these innocent children and their teachers in Connecticut. As a human being, I am appalled that someone could commit such an insane act and actually pull that trigger ending those young lives. The grief I feel for the families of the victims is too great for words. We have had too many moments like this - 31 school massacres in our country since Columbine. Today, our nation mourns. In the coming days and weeks, we must come to grips with the horrors of the growing gun violence we are witnessing with all too much frequency. This country must keep guns out of the hands of deranged murderers, and the fact that we cannot pass sensible gun control in this Congress is a blot on our reputation. As I have said many times in the past, we must pass sensible gun control. We owe it to the memories of the children and teachers murdered today."
New York U.S. Rep. Steve Israel
"I am stunned and outraged by the mass murder in Connecticut today. We keep viewing these tragedies as teachable moments on stopping gun violence, and then we forget the lessons until the next tragedy. Over the next days and weeks, we must come together on common-sense steps to keep guns out of schools. Today, as Long Islanders and Americans, we stand with the families of Newtown."
New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver
"Like all Americans, I am horrified and grief-stricken by the news from Connecticut. This is an unimaginable tragedy that is difficult to even comprehend. The idea that such evil would be delivered upon innocent children seems impossible to fathom. On behalf of the New Jersey General Assembly, we pray for those lost today and send our thoughts and prayers to their families and friends. Unspeakable events such as this have sadly become far too common. Let us all pledge to redouble our efforts to ensure a better world for everyone, most especially for our little children."
New York U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey
"Today's horrific act of violence in Newtown, Connecticut is senseless and heartbreaking. There are no words to express the profound grief we all feel at the loss of so many, especially young children. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their friends and family and the entire Newtown community. We cannot tolerate mass shootings as a mere inconvenience or a normal part of our everyday lives. Easy availability of the deadliest weapons to the most dangerous people has cost countless lives and caused immeasurable suffering, never more so than today. Our expressions of sympathy must be matched with concrete actions to stop gun violence."
New York 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."
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Task Force to Combat Gun Violence Co-Chairs Jumaane Williams and Fernando Cabrera (Joint Statement)
"We are horrified by the carnage at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Words cannot express the damage done to this community and our nation as a whole. Our hearts go out to the families of Newtown, Connecticut on this terrible day. This tragedy is an urgent reminder that we must strengthen the call for serious gun control reform. From Columbine to Oak Creek, from Aurora to Newtown, our country cannot and must not live in fear of weapons designed to kill. We pray that elected leaders, regardless of background, can put a stop to this madness and help save lives."
New York U.S. Rep-Elect Hakeem Jeffries
"Our heartfelt sorrow goes out to the parents and family members whose children and relatives have confronted evil and wickedness in its purest form. No words can provide comfort to these grieving parents, but we must do all we can to support them in this time of extreme need. We should also pray for strength in the midst of a storm that will not soon pass for the victims, family members and community. Lastly, we should hold our children closer as we lay them to bed, and when day breaks begin to seriously confront what needs to happen to prevent tragedies like this massacre from ever occurring again."
New York U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney
"The students and their families and the teachers and employees at Sandy Hook Elementary School are in my thoughts and prayers today. Like all Americans, my heart is heavy with grief for the members of this community who have been devastated by this horrible, senseless act of violence. Our first thoughts must be with the families of those killed and injured today. But we can no longer allow tragedies - like Columbine, and Virginia Tech, and Tucson, and Aurora, and Newtown - to occur over and over without finally taking meaningful action to prevent them from happening again. Together as Americans, we must engage each other in a civil discourse about ways to deter would-be mass killers who are currently able to legally purchase guns and ammunition more easily than they could register an automobile. We must engage in this effort, however politically painful. Otherwise, sadly, we will continue to see more of these unspeakable tragedies."
