It’s been 10 years since 20 first graders and six adults were killed during a tragic attack by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School. News of the shooting shocked the nation. The event was one of the deadliest school shootings in the history of the United States, and families of its victims, as well as survivors, still feel the impacts of this traumatic experience.
Barack Obama, who was president at the time, still describes the event as the darkest day of his presidency.
President Joe Biden, who was vice president at the time, recently attended the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence and before speaking was introduced by Sandy Hook survivor Jackie Hegarty, who is now a senior in high school.
His speech reflected on the tragedy and called for change. Although there have been improvements to gun safety laws during his administration, he says it is “still not enough,” calling again for a ban on assault weapons to prevent such violence from repeating.