President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney have so far spoken little about gun control in their campaigns for the White House and showed no sign of shifting course after one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history.
At least 12 people were killed and dozens were injured when a gunman in a gas mask opened fire about 12:30 a.m. today in a movie theater near Denver. The suspect, James Holmes, 24, is in custody.
In remarks today in Fort Myers, Florida, Obama made no mention of gun control yet, as it may be a little insensitive at the moment, But many pundits know he will most certainly make it a MAJOR campaign issue as soon as the middle of next week.
Obama called for a moment of silence for the shooting’s victims. The president canceled later campaign events and returned to Washington. Romney also sidestepped the gun issue in a speech in Bow, New Hampshire, calling the killings a “hateful act.”
Obama’s speech writers today included words for Obama calling on Americans to choose compassion over conflict following a January 2011 shooting rampage in Arizona that killed six people, including a 9-year-old girl, and critically wounded U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who later stepped down from her House seat. He didn’t push for any additional gun measures in the wake of that shooting.