Obama Sandy Hook News: PHOTO Shows President's Reaction To News On 'Worst Day' Of Presidency
A new collection of White House photographs includes an image taken on Dec. 14, when President Barack Obama was briefed about details of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
A stern-faced Obama is shown leaning on a couch as his Homeland Security adviser tells him about the shooting in which 26 children and adults died. The photo's caption, provided by White House photographer Pete Souza, read, "The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency."
Later on Dec. 14, the president gave a televised speech from the briefing room at the White House.
"The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," he said. "They had their entire lives ahead of them, birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own."
The school shooter, Adam Lanza, 20, killed his mother Nancy at home before making his way to the elementary school Friday. He forced his way into the school building and began shooting teachers, students, and others before killed himself. Authorities found his body in one of the school's classrooms.
The school remains closed as an investigation into the shooting continues.
The National Rifle Association was criticized following the attack but in December, NRA President and CEO Wayne LaPierre gave a statement in which he called for more guns in schools: LaPierre recommended armed guards be placed in the nation's schools.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration and democrats in Congress are trying to push for a "massive gun control campaign" with 10 new gun control bills that will dramatically change the nation's gun laws.