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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Obama also speaks on the shootings

Posted: Monday, April 16, 2007 4:25 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
After a Women for Obama event, the Illinois senator addressed the Virginia Tech shootings: "It's heart breaking. Obviously still getting details as to how such a tragedy could happen. Our first concern has to be with the parents right now who probably still don't know whether their own sons and daughters are okay. These were future leaders, our most precious resource. To see them struck down at the prime of life like this is a tragedy and I think we have to do some soul searching to find out are there ways we can prevent these things from happening again."

***UPDATE*** Hillary Clinton has also put this statement: "As a parent, I am filled with sorrow for the mothers and fathers and loved ones struggling with the sudden, unbearable news of a lost son or daughter, friend or family member. This tragedy is still unfolding and I hope as a nation we can come together and keep in our thoughts all those affected as we learn more about the events which took place this morning."

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Comments

I just thank God this sought of thing does not happen in our country everyday. I pray for the families and hope they find peace.
Hey Charlton, stop eating your checkers and tell us what the NRA's reaction is to this tragedy. And Barack and Hillary, why don't you two be the first presidential candidates to make sense about guns and gun control. Be courageous enough to lose the votes of those still waiting for injuns to attack. Talk about the second amendment. The time is now.
Hey Pete they will never chance losing some votes, they will always flip flop with the polls. MSNBC shows the reactions of Obama and Edwards and mentions nothing of Bushs reaction, how typical.
"Every Picture Tells A Story Don't It"-Rolling Stones
Ryan, we were in the middle of other work when Bush gave his statement later this afternoon. We just put that up. Thanks for the catch.
Ryan's got his eye on you MSNBC! And nothing gets past Ryan*, so no funny business, you hear? Good catch Ryan. You really stuck it to 'em this time**. * - The Navajos call him "Hunts With Eagles". ** - This is a sarcastic comment.
Hell I'll say it, it is time for gun control in this country. Of course the red necks that watch cars going roundy roundy and have a rifle in their gun racks in the pick em ups, won't agree. But the thing that the red necks don't understand is that the country life is not the same as the cities. When you have trajeties of this magnitude, their objections kind of ring hollow. The redneck phrase that guns don't kill people, people kill people. Oh really, if this kook went into virginia tech with a knife or a baseball bat, would the death toll be 33? It is time for some common sense in this country to prevail, gun control is doable, we don't have to take away the right to own a gun in this country, because I own a gun or two, but just make it a little more difficult for the kooks to get one and go on a rampage, Is that asking too much from the rednecks or what? Only a redneck republican would disagree with this thought, but who cares what they think, certanily the families of the 33 victims don't give a crap of your right to hunt and shoot empty cans. Come on people, we can do better than this in our country, we can protect a persons right to own a gun, and at the same time protect the innocent victims of a senseless rampage.
i'm just thankful that god was with everyone on the campus and that they are safe. i'm sorry for all the kids that got shot and i would have been terrified,too.i'm praying so be thankful to have god with you!
Have we not yet found a way to blame this on President Bush and the Republican party?
Ken. Why are you making fun of my Native American Heritage? Do you think Indians are something to ridicule?
Pete Caloger gun control or gun ownership restriction would have not have prevented this tragedy,actually if the teachers were forced to carry a gun this probably would not have happened.The fact is guns are here and will always be,if you make it illegal to purchase one people who want one can buy it somewhere anyway, in case you had not noticed people who commit criminal acts really don't care what the law says.
They aren't Indians. India is a country in Asia. You had it right the first time - Native American. And what tribe are you from Rick? Maybe my ancestors and your ancestors had some beef with one another.
MK, over 100,000 people have been shot to death in this country over the last 13 years. It would seem that an enlightened society would contemplate a better way of protecting its citizens from violent death, and I would suggest that the safety of these citizens trumps the needs and wants of the NRA set.
My heart goes out to all those devastated families. The poor people in Iraq, this terrible tragedy happens to them every day.
pcaloger in case you had not noticed not everyone in our society is "enlightened", that would be your root cause, I suggest you concentrate your efforts on that because guns are not the problem.


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