President Obama Addresses Connecticut School Shooting: ‘Our Hearts Are Broken Today’

Shortly after the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed the lives of 27 people — 18 of whom were children — President Obama held a press conference at the White House to address the shooting and extend his condolences to the families of the victims.

President Obama said, “We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years.” He cited the recent mall shooting in Clackamas, Oregon, and the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, as examples.

He also said he was reacting, not as a president, but as a parent.

“I know there’s not a parent in America that doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief as I do,” he said.

President Obama also said the children had their entire lives ahead of them, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and kids of their own.

Obama then added:

“Our hearts are broken today for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children … Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well.”

The president then said every parent in America will hug their children a little tighter tonight and tell them they love them.

“While nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need,” he said.

President Obama continued:

“These neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children.”

Shortly after the press conference, CBS’s Bob Schieffer said this is a Barack Obama we haven’t seen very often in public.

“This was someone who clearly was touched by what he saw and heard today,” he said.