California Shooting: Obama Makes Appeal For Stronger ‘Gun Safety Laws’

Fourteen people were killed, and 17 more were injured on Wednesday in a violent California shooting incident that took place in a center for the developmentally disabled.

At least two suspects reportedly entered a party in a conference hall at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino where they immediately started shooting. The incident took place at around 11:00 a.m. in the presence of various employees of the county health department.

Two of the alleged three suspects are said to have been killed by the police in a manhunt launched later that day, while one was detained.

President Obama spoke with CBS News and released a statement about the California shooting. He condemned the violent incident and emphasized the importance of better gun control laws in stopping the “pattern” of mass shootings.

President Obama Calls For ‘Gun Safety Laws’ Following California Shooting

Obama also called for legal changes that would prevent such shooting incidents in the future.

“The one thing we do know is that we have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere else in the world,” said Obama, whose presidency has endured more than a dozen mass shootings based on unofficial data by CBS‘ Mark Knoller.

The president called for lawmakers and U.S. leaders to come together to implement reforms on gun regulation like “common sense gun safety laws and stronger background checks,” and preventing people from the “no-fly” list from buying firearms.

Meanwhile, White House hopefuls have also shared their thoughts about the mass shooting, showing the great divide between the Democrats and the Republicans.

Democrats called for laws to stop gun violence, while gun-supporting Republicans expressed their sympathies to the bereaved families and victims, as well as commending the law enforcement agencies responsible for keeping the situation under control.

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Hilary Clinton shared her voice on Twitter saying: “I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now.”

Fellow Democratic and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley expressed a similar concern and called for action.

“Horrifying news out of #SanBernardino. Enough is enough: it’s time to stand up to the @NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws,” he said on Twitter.

Independent candidate and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said that the mass shootings should stop.

“Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop,” Sanders said.

On the other hand, Republican front-runner Donald Trump commended the law enforcement for the job well done.

California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2015

“California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!” he said.

Other presidential hopefuls who weighed in on the incident include former Florida governor Jeb Bush, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, former New York governor George Pataki, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz.

Just six months ago, Obama dealt with another shooting incident, which took place in a Charleston church in South Carolina, were nine people were killed.

Obama Administration Addresses South Carolina Shooting In July

Obama’s administration has seen some of the worst cases of gun violence, and every time he steps in front of the camera to announce a new shooting incident, Obama increasingly appeals for action from legislators.

Jon Favreau, Obama’s speechwriter said that, while some people may see the president as someone who is growing “numb” to the mass shooting incidents, he is actually becoming frustrated that nothing is being done on the legislative level.

[Image by Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images]