WASHINGTON -- Mark Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), delivered a message to President Barack Obama and other political leaders in the wake of Friday's shooting massacre in Newtown, Conn.: Do something on gun control already.
In a post on his Facebook page, Kelly, who is in Beijing, said he woke up in the middle of the night to learn of the shootings that reportedly took the lives of at least 27 people, including the gunman. He said it's time for more than just regret and sorrow in response to gun violence:
I just woke up in my hotel room in Beijing, China to learn that another mass shooting had taken place - this time at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the entire community of Newtown, CT. I just spoke to Gabby, and she sends her prayers from Tucson.
As we mourn, we must sound a call for our leaders to stand up and do what is right. This time our response must consist of more than regret, sorrow, and condolence. The children of Sandy Hook Elementary School and all victims of gun violence deserve leaders who have the courage to participate in a meaningful discussion about our gun laws - and how they can be reformed and better enforced to prevent gun violence and death in America. This can no longer wait.
Obama and congressional leaders have regularly steered clear of the issue of gun control, despite the spate of mass shootings over the past several years -- including the Tucson shootings in January 2011 that nearly took the life of Giffords. But during brief remarks at the White House in response to the latest shootings, the president, who visibly teared up as he spoke, signaled that he might be ready to do more on the issue.
"We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics," Obama said.
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