And we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We should do as much as we can, as quickly as we can. They're based on the emerging consensus we heard from all the groups with whom we spoke, including some of you who are victims of this god-awful occurrence - ways to keep guns out of the wrong hands, as well as ways to take comprehensive action to prevent violence in the first place.
And I’ve spoken with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, had extensive conversations with mayors and governors and county officials.Īnd the recommendations we provided to the President on Monday call for executive actions he could sign, legislation he could call for, and long-term research that should be undertaken. And toward that end, the Cabinet members and I sat down with 229 groups - not just individuals, representing groups - 229 groups from law enforcement agencies to public health officials, to gun officials, to gun advocacy groups, to sportsmen and hunters and religious leaders. It’s in this context that the President asked me to put together, along with Cabinet members, a set of recommendations about how we should proceed to meet that moral obligation we have. The world has changed, and it’s demanding action. But I also have never seen the nation’s conscience so shaken by what happened at Sandy Hook. And I have no illusions about what we’re up against or how hard the task is in front of us. No one can know for certain if this senseless act could have been prevented, but we all know we have a moral obligation - a moral obligation - to do everything in our power to diminish the prospect that something like this could happen again.Īs the President knows, I’ve worked in this field a long time - in the United States Senate, having chaired a committee that had jurisdiction over these issues of guns and crime, and having drafted the first gun violence legislation - the last gun violence legislation, I should say. And the President and I are going to do everything to try to match the resolve you’ve demonstrated. And I must say I’ve been deeply affected by your faith, as well. I admire the grace and the resolve that you all are showing. I want to personally thank Chris and Lynn McDonald, who lost their beautiful daughter, Grace, and the other parents who I had a chance to speak to, for their suggestions and for - again, just for the courage of all of you to be here today. It’s literally been hard for the nation to comprehend, hard for the nation to fathom.Īnd I know for the families who are here that time is not measured in days, but it’s measured in minutes, in seconds, since you received that news. Six members of the staff killed trying to save those children.
It’s been 33 days since the nation’s heart was broken by the horrific, senseless violence that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School - 20 - 20 beautiful first-graders gunned down in a place that's supposed to be their second sanctuary.
And the President and I are going to do everything in our power to honor the memory of your children and your wives with the work we take up here today. And you show incredible courage - incredible courage - being here. THE VICE PRESIDENT: Before I begin today, let me say to the families of the innocents who were murdered 33 days ago, our heart goes out to you.
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