The President:
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.
