‘Jill and I are here, though on behalf of the American people, to make sure you know that you’re not alone,’ President Biden tells people in Lewiston, Maine, site of state’s deadliest mass shooting 9 days ago
LEWISTON, Maine — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden stood for a moment of silence and placed a bouquet of white flowers at a makeshift memorial outside Schemengees Bar and Grille, one of the scenes of the state’s deadliest mass shooting.
“Jill and I have done too many of these,” Biden said outside the bowling alley, standing in front of police officers, EMTs and others who responded to the shootings. “Jill and I are here, though on behalf of the American people, to make sure you know that you’re not alone.” Authorities said this week that Card’s family had brought their concerns about his deteriorating mental health to the local sheriff five months before the deadly rampage. He had also undergone a mental health evaluation after he began behaving erratically at a training facility last summer.
“This is about common sense,” he said Friday. “Reasonable, responsible measures to protect our children, our families, our communities. Because regardless of our politics, this is about protecting our freedom to go to a bowling alley, a restaurant, a school, church, without being shot and killed.” As of Friday, there have been at least 37 mass killings in the U.S. in 2023, leaving at least 195 people dead, not including shooters who died, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
“In general, I have no issue with the use of guns,” she said through a sign-language interpreter. “Some people feel more comfortable having a gun for protection or for some it’s a hunting tradition. But why do we have semiautomatic weapons available that people can get? That can cause such severe devastation?”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
President Biden and First Lady to visit Lewiston following mass shooting to pay respects, grieve with communityPresident Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will visit Lewiston on Friday.
Read more »
WATCH: President Biden and First Lady visit Lewiston following mass shooting to pay respects, grieve with communityPresident Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will visit Lewiston on Friday.
Read more »
Joe Biden calls for 'common sense' gun reform Lewiston, Maine, where Robert Card killed 18President Biden reiterated his call for gun reform as he stopped in Maine to pay respects to the victims and families of those killed and wounded last week after a gunman opened fire at a bar and bowling alley.
Read more »
Biden tells residents of Maine town reeling from mass shooting: 'You're not alone'President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden came to Lewiston Maine, to show their support for the community following a mass shooting where 18 people were killed
Read more »
Biden Places Flowers at Memorial for Maine Shooting VictimsPresident Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden added a bouquet of white flowers Friday to a makeshift memorial outside Schemengees Bar and Grille, one of the scenes of Maine's deadliest mass shooting.
Read more »
‘You’re not alone,’ Biden tells residents of Maine town reeling from mass shootingLess than 10 days after a shooter killed 18 people and injured 13 more, the president reaffirmed his determination to fight gun violence in the U.S.
Read more »