“But given the fact that the last two terrorist attacks on our soil – Orlando and San Bernardino – were homegrown, carried out it appears not by external plotters, not by vast networks or sophisticated cells, but by deranged individuals warped by the hateful propaganda that they had seen over the Internet, then we’re going to have to do more to prevent these kinds of events from occurring”, Obama said.
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People hold balloons on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, June 14, 2016, to form a “human rainbow” during a gathering to remember the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando.
Obama’s more than two-hour visit at Orlando’s Amway Center with the families was low-key and private, away from the news cameras and inquiries of reporters. He spoke of victims of the shooting including partners who shielded each other from the shooter, a mother who saved her son from bullets, and the heroic actions of a former marine who saved dozens of club goers.
The families that he and Biden met, Obama said, had “grief beyond description”. They are our family. They’re part of the American family.
“Our hearts are broken too and we stand with you and we are here for you”. We’re here for you. “Americans were targeted because we’re a country that has learned to welcome everyone, no matter who you are or who you love”, Obama said.
‘Those who were gunned down and injured here were gunned down by a single killer with a powerful assault weapon, ‘ he said. Today, once again, as has been true too many times before, I held and hugged grieving family members and parents, and they asked, why does this keep happening?
“You can’t break up the world into “us and them” and denigrate and express hatred toward groups because of the color of their skin, or their faith, or their sexual orientation, and not feed something very risky in this world”, Obama said, in what felt like another subtle repudiation of Trump and some of the divisive rhetoric that’s followed the shooting.
“Neither do I. This debate needs to change”, he said.
Obama was greeted upon landing in Orlando by Vice President Joe Biden, Gov. Rick Scott and Sen.
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, whose state of CT shouldered the killing of 20 children in Newtown in 2012, undertook a roughly 15-hour filibuster that lasted into the early hours of Thursday. The measures did not include the gun bill. Another section of the original, 1.25 mile long flag will be on display June 16, 2016, during President Barack Obama’s visit to Orlando, Florida, in the wake of the shooting at the Pulse nightclub.
People hold U.S. flag in rainbow colours as they pay tribute to the victims of Florida shooting in front of the United States embassy in Warsaw, June 13, 2016.
Obama was visibly angry in 2013 when a bill on background checks failed to get out of the U.S. Senate, despite being controlled by Democrats at the time. Charleston, South Carolina, last year. And Republicans will offer an alternative by Sen. A Republican version would allow the government to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for 72 hours but require prosecutors to go to court to show probable cause to block the sale permanently.
After a series of emotional meetings, Obama renewed his call for more gun control, according to USA Today. Obama also accepted a T-shirt from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a Democrat.
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And one senior Republica, Arizona Sen.
