U.S. presidential condolences span decades of school shootings
STORY: JOE BIDEN: “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Santa Fe High School in Texas. Oxford High School in Michigan.”
BARACK OBAMA: "The majority of those who died today were children.”
JOE BIDEN: "Uvalde, Texas.”
GEORGE W. BUSH: “Now, they are gone and they leave behind grieving families.”
There have been 1,369 shooting incidents at schools in the U.S. since 1970
Source: K-12 School Shooting Database
The presidents' speeches on the subject have been strikingly repetitive over the years
1999. Columbine High School. 12 students, one teacher killed.
BILL CLINTON: “I can only say tonight that the prayers of the American people are with you.”
“We don’t know yet all the hows or whys of this tragedy.”
“And we do know we have to do more to recognize the early warning signs.”
2007. Virginia Tech. 32 killed.
GEORGE W. BUSH: “Those whose lives were taken did nothing to deserve their fate.”
“It’s impossible to make sense of such violence and suffering.”
“They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
2012. Sandy Hook Elementary School. 26 killed.
BARACK OBAMA: “They had their entire lives ahead of them – birthdays, graduations, weddings.”
“This evening Michelle and I will do what we know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter.”
2015. Umpqua Community College. 9 killed.
BARACK OBAMA: “Somehow this has become routine.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are not enough.”
“This is a political choice that we make, to allow this to happen every few months in America.”
2018. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.17 killed.
DONALD TRUMP: “We are here for you, whatever you need.”
“In these moments of heartache and darkness, we hold onto God’s word in scripture.”
2022. Robb Elementary. 21 killed.
JOE BIDEN: “So tonight I ask the nation to pray for them.”
“As a nation we have to ask – ‘when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby.”
