‘This must stop’: Biden responds to Georgia school shooting by 14-year-old

On Wednesday, Apalachee High School in Georgia became the scene of a horrifying tragedy when a 14-year-old student opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two students and two teachers, and injuring nine others. This mass shooting marks the first major school shooting of the academic year in the United States. The suspect, identified as Colt Gray, was apprehended shortly after the incident.

Colt Gray, aged 14, has been charged and will face trial as an adult, according to Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Armed with an "AR platform style weapon," Gray was swiftly confronted by deputies and surrendered without resistance.

President Biden Reacts

In response to the shooting, President Joe Biden expressed his deep sorrow and condemned the senseless violence. He noted that this tragic event underscores the ongoing crisis of gun violence in American communities. “We cannot continue to accept this as normal,” Biden stated. He emphasized the need for more stringent gun control measures, including a renewed ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, universal background checks, and safe firearm storage requirements.

Biden's Call for Action

President Biden urged Congress to act decisively to address the gun violence epidemic. He highlighted recent legislative efforts, such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and the establishment of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, led by Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite progress, Biden stressed that further action is essential.

Former President Donald Trump also commented on the tragedy, expressing his condolences. He described the shooter as a “sick and deranged monster” and extended his sympathy to the victims’ families.

Previous FBI Investigation

Remarkably, the suspect and his father had been questioned by the FBI last year concerning online threats about a potential school shooting. According to the FBI, although the father claimed the suspect did not have unsupervised access to firearms, the situation had been monitored by local schools.

Ongoing Debate Over Gun Control

The U.S. has faced numerous school shootings over the past two decades, with the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 being one of the deadliest. This latest incident reignites the debate over gun laws and the interpretation of the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.