Moment of Silence for Sandy Hook Victims

This morning, my staff and I observed a moment of silence at 9:30 AM in honor of the Sandy Hook victims.

The nation watched in horror last Friday and our hearts were broken as we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in the history of the nation. I am grieving alongside the parents, families, school employees, and community as a whole as they continue to grapple with the horrific loss of life in Newtown, Connecticut.

As we continue to grieve for this incomprehensible tragedy, we should remain mindful that a moment of silence is important but not enough.  As I am sure governors and members of Congress across the country would agree, a moment of silence is not a substitute for good public policy to protect our children and their families.  I hope we honor the memory of last Friday’s victims in the most meaningful way -- taking action as soon as possible to ban assault weapons and expand access to quality mental health care across the country.