Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2024

September 4, 2024

Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed. What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart. Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal.

We are closely coordinating with officials at the Federal, State, and local level and are grateful for the first responders who brought the suspect into custody and prevented further loss of life.

Ending this gun violence epidemic is personal to me. It's why I signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Actâthe most meaningful gun safety bill in decadesâand have announced dozens of gun safety executive actions. I also established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris. We've made significant progress, but this crisis requires even more.

After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say "enough is enough" and work with Democrats to pass commonsense gun safety legislation. We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but it will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart.

NOTE: The statement referred to Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, students, and Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, teachers, Apalachee High School in Winder, GA, who were killed in the shooting on September 4; and suspected gunman Colt Gray.

Categories: Statements by the President : Georgia, shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.

Names: Angulo, Christian; Aspinwall, Richard; Biden, Jill T.; Gray, Colt; Harris, Kamala D.; Irimie, Cristina; Schermerhorn, Mason.

Subjects: Georgia, shooting in Winder; Gun control efforts; Gun purchase background checks, improvement efforts; Gun violence, prevention efforts; Office of Gun Violence Prevention; Vice President.

DCPD Number: DCPD202400746.