NEWTOWN, CT -- Connecticut police said Friday afternoon that 26 people, including 20 children, were killed at an elementary school after a gunman opened fire. Another adult was killed at a second location.
The Scene
Police in Newtown were called to the Sandy Hook School at about 9:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 call Friday morning. Authorities said the gunman was found dead inside the school. He was reportedly armed with four guns and a high-powered assault rifle. Authorities said during a press conference that they have retrieved three weapons from the scene.
A parent interviewed on CBS News told the network on Friday that his 8-year-old daughter said she heard an argument and cursing over the school’s loudspeaker, apparently coming from the principal’s office. Her teacher then immediately locked the classroom door as a safety precaution. A fourth-grade student at Sandy Hook School told Connecticut’s Channel 7 that he and his classmates were “locked in a closet in the gym” to escape the gunman.
One mother of an 8-year-old girl at the school, Brenda Lebinski, told Patch that her daughter is safe thanks to one teacher's decision to move all kids into a closet when the gunman entered the building.
The Shooter and His Family
The shooter, identified as Adam Lanza, attacked the Sandy Hook School where his mother, Nancy Lanza, worked as a kindergarten teacher. Media reports initially identified the shooter as Adam's 24-year-old Ryan Lanza.
Nancy was found dead in her Newtown home. According to reports, the shooting took place in her classroom. Eighteen children were killed at the scene, while two were taken to the hospital where they later died. The school’s principal, Dawn Hochsprung, also was among the six adults killed.
National Response
The shooting, one of the deadliest in U.S. history, has once again touched a nerve about the country’s gun violence.
During a press conference Friday afternoon, President Obama visibly wept, saying "We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.”
The president also said “our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors, as well. For as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early."
You desire so strongly to believe that I hate all those groups you mentioned when anyone who reads what I write will clearly see otherwise. You want reasons to dislike me...and that's fine. I can't change who you chose to be and represent online. If you want to pretend that beating me up will solve all your issues...fine. If it helps you sleep at night hating me because of things you make up. Fine. I'm glad to help. But I'm done answering your posts and responding to the lies you continue to perpetuate about me. It's asinine that you can't engage in a conversation with someone who doesn't agree with you on all issues and when they don't, you make up information and resort to likening them to prostitutes and even being so mature as to make fun of my mom. When you learn to have an open discussion we can try this again. Until then have a lovely time only talking to those who agree with you.
I know that the majority of people that own guns like that aren't out to get anyone. I guess what I am really saying is that I don't get why it means so much to gun owners that they have these types of weapons...so much so that they are willing to concede that high magazine "assault type" guns may be used in these types of massacres just to keep them in your possession. Only having been a recreational shooter, I don't understand that attachment. I know it may not be the best way to do it, but I feel that sometimes concessions should be made on certain things to better the society we live in. I feel this is one of those times. I know a lot of people will disagree with me, and that's fine. I am just putting my opinion out on one way to bandage this massive problem we have had brewing over the past few years. The guns need a person, but the person also used the guns.
Try not to marginalize a gun control argument about stopping this by talking about how other innocent people should be killed.
Before you respond keep in mind that I don't mind that you disagree with me. All I ask is that you formulate your opinion and give me reasons you want things a certain way. Calling me an idiot, making "back of the bus" jokes about my mom, general insults....they don't move your case forward. Also, if you want to tell me something is a fact it would be nice to have some sort of evidence to back it up. I don't know your personal sources. They might be right, but evidence is generally needed to convince people.
I don't have time right now to delve into all your numbers, but in looking at the page your FACT information from, it does have some good numbers. I'll cite it for you. http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/5.1/gun-facts-5.1-screen.pdf I'll read through them today and go from there, as I still keep an open mind about gun control. I can already see though that to prove some of their facts they use a large range of years instead of comparing direct year against year in other countries. Some of their FACT quotes are also followed by the word estimated, which is not really a fact. The 60% of felons quote you gave says it was from a 1986 survey....very current. They also cite the FBI site frequently, which you told me was all lies and falsehoods. So yeah, I'll read it all and go in open minded and remember what you told me about government sites only spreading lies.
You obviously want things your way or you wouldn't write a book to everyone that posts on here. I don't need to give a complete American hating douche bag like yourself reasons for anything. Now you want evidence to convince people? I thought you liked everyone's opinions? Oh thats right you only like yours you fucking cry baby! Tell your mom I said hi!
You see, what I'm doing is looking for common ground and somewhere to meet in the middle. What you're doing is telling me it's only black or white and I'm a moron/prostitute/America Hater/idiot...anything else?. Guns or no guns. That's just not true. I'm telling you jeff. Just relax. You can pretend we're on the school bus where the other children laugh at your 6th grade insults all you want, but it's just a message board for people to give and discuss their opinions. I said it once before, but when you're ready to act like the accomplished adult that you say you are, I'd love to keep chatting.
I have no reason to believe that you aren't what you say you are, but I'm amazed that you had a business in 50 states and however many countries when you treat people like this. Maybe you aren't this polite in person...who knows. Your comments insulting everything about me here aren't going to make me sad, won't make my opinion invalid, and won't make you a "real man." It's online chatter and you just sound like a bitter person who can't accept that someone else isn't lock step with him. But you should be careful throwing around your childish insults. Not everyone will read your comments with a smile and write them off as childish drivel like I do. You might actually push someone over the tipping point. You don't want to change gun culture, and that's fine. You've had some valid points but you should work on changing other things instead. Politeness goes a long way. So jeff, still love ya, have yourself a merry Christmas and a great New Year. (ps...keep in mind that it is OK to proofread your insults.)