President Barack Obama said Thursday investigators are continuing to search for the motives of the people who killed 14 people in a spray of bullets in California and called on Americans to “search ourselves as a society” to find a way to curb gun violence.
Speaking to journalists in the Oval Office, Obama said there may have been “mixed motives” behind the shooting, a factor that is complicating the investigation.
“It is possible that this was terrorist-related, but we don’t know. It’s also possible this was workplace-related,” Obama said after a meeting with his national security team. Obama said the suspects in the Wednesday shooting were equipped with weapons at the time they were killed by police and appeared to have access to more at home.
“We don’t know why they did it. We don’t know at this point the extent of their plans,” Obama said, warning against passing judgment before conclusions are drawn.
Obama repeated his case for new gun control measures — a call he’s promised to issue after every mass shooting — although he did not lay out specific proposals or criticize the Republican-led Congress for blocking tighter controls, as he often does.
Speaking softly, a subdued Obama said too often Americans feel there’s nothing they can do to prevent this kind of violence.
“We all have a part to play. As the investigation moves forward, it’s going to be important for all of us, including our legislatures, to see what we can do to make sure that when an individual decides they want to do somebody harm, we make it a little harder for them to do it. Right now, it’s just too easy.
“We’re going to have to, I think, search ourselves as a society,” he said.
Obama ordered U.S. flags at the White House and other government buildings to be flown at half-staff through Monday to honor the victims of the shootings.
(AP)
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5 Responses
If one sees a dog-like animal walking down the street in Brooklyn it is possible it is a hyena or a thylacine or even a wolf — but the greatest liklihood is that it is a dog.
If a South Asian Muslim, who recently visited Saudi Arabia and has been becoming more “religious” in public suddenly shoots people, it could be because he is insane, or simply doesn’t like handicapped people, or simply wants to do target pratice with moving targets — but probably he’s an terrorist connected with the global Islamic terror movement.
Akurman – what you’re saying – if it looks like it, if it tastes like it, & if it smells like it, by golly it Is It!
Nonsense. Not a terrorist. Just a criminal that was able to easily acquire a weapon. Stricter controls should take care of that. As a matter of fact stricter controls should easily stop ISIS from acquiring weapons. Simple solution. If you believe all this, you’re liberally delusional.
Americans need to “search themselves as a society?”
You know what? Let’s say that going to Saudi Arabia, coming back, becoming more religious, growing a beard, etc. is really nothing. Let’s say it was workplace violence. Well, even if it is, shouldn’t the society that needs to search itself STILL be Muslim society, if so many of its adherents seem to think that the solution to workplace disputes is to shoot the place up?
I think the American people deserve an answer to that from the person who is supposed to be acting as their president.
It’s Possible” Yeah? Ya think?