Hillary Clinton Vows to ‘Take On’ Gun Violence After Virginia TV Shootings
After the fatal shooting of a reporter and a cameraman during a live broadcast for WDBJ7, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke about gun violence, saying she will “take it on.”
“We have got to do something about gun violence in America,” Clinton said to the media Wednesday at a press conference in Moneta, Va. “I will take it on. There are many people who face it and know it, but then turn away because it’s hard. It’s a very political, difficult issue in America, but I believe we are smart enough, we are compassionate enough, to figure out how to balance the legitimate Second Amendment rights with preventive measures and control measures so that whatever motivated this murderer, who eventually took his own life, we will not see more deaths — needless, senseless deaths.
Clinton took to Twitter four hours before the press conference to offer condolences to the families.
“Heartbroken and angry. We must act to stop gun violence, and we cannot wait any longer. Praying for the victims’ families in Virginia. -H”
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest also spoke to the incident.
“While there is no piece of legislation that will end all violence in this country, there are some commonsense things that only Congress can do that we know would have a tangible impact in reducing gun violence in this country,” Earnest said.
Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, a reporter and photographer for WDBJ7, were shot and killed by a former employee while they were conducting an interview. The gunman, Vester Flanagan, is reportedly dead after shooting himself.
“I feel just great hearthache at what happened and I want to reiterate how important it is we not let yet another terrible instance go by without trying to do something more to prevent this incredible killing that is stalking our country,” Clinton said.
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