In one of the ghastliest incidents of crime, a 20-year old gunman – Adam Lanza – went on a shooting spree and killed his mother – who was a teacher at the Sandy Hook Elementary School – and 25 others including 18 children in the school in Newtown (Connecticut) which is some 60 miles northeast of New York city and then shot himself dead.
One of the 9 mm handguns used has been found abandoned.
Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader, said: “We are all stunned, shocked, and distraught by this tragic shooting, by this violent act, and by the loss of so many young children. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the students, teachers, and educators killed and wounded in Newtown, Connecticut.”
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said “There can be no consolation other than to know that they have the heartfelt prayers and support of an entire nation” while calling the incident a “parent’s worst nightmare” and a “senseless tragedy“.
It may be recalled that in July 2012, twelve people were slain and 38 suffered injuries in Colorado at a premiere of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises” when a gunman fired at the crowds and that, in August, a gunman killed six people shot down six people in a gurudwara in Wisconsin.
Heated debates have been going on in the US about reviewing the present laws regarding firearms. The latest incident is bound to raise the pitch of the debates to a new feverish high.
When misplaced notions of liberty keep dominating the public mind, it might be difficult to revoke such laws and tighten the regulations. But, laws, like everything else, do need review and re-validation from time to time.
Tags: Gun laws in US Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting at Batman movie premiere Shooting in Gurudwara Shooting in Newtown School