At least four people were killed and several injured in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, renewing calls from the President to address the ongoing scourge of gun violence in the United States. The suspected shooter is in custody.
The incident happened around 9:30 am US Eastern time. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith used social media to label the event as "an evil thing" and didn't elaborate other than stating "multiple injuries." The President said the loss of life was heartbreaking and how communities know gun violence far too often.
"What should have been a joyful back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, is instead another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to rip our communities apart," Biden said. He also noted that students are learning to duck and cover rather than read and write, which cannot be passed off as normal. Biden commended first responders for catching the suspect and preventing more deaths.
The President said gun violence was a matter not only professional but personal. He cited the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and establishing the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, assigned to Vice President Harris, as some of the moves being made to deal with the crisis. With those steps made, Biden conceded that more needed to be done: a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, a requirement for safe firearm storage, institution of universal background checks, and an end to immunity for gun manufacturers.
The US government does not systematically track school shootings. Still, media reports show that there have been 46 school shootings in the year 2024-the highest since 1999, the year of the Columbine High School shooting. Over 383,000 students reportedly have experienced shootings at schools this year.
Read also| US Sanctions Russian Journalists for Influence Campaign, Files Charges Against Two
