President Barack Obama on Friday offered condolences to the families of the victims of Thursday’s mass shooting shooting in Hesston, Kansas.
Speaking at an event in Jacksonville, Florida, Obama noted that the shooting came just days after another mass shooting in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and called on lawmakers to prioritize action on gun control.
“These acts may not dominate the news today, but these are two more communities in America that are torn apart by grief,” Obama said. “We cannot become numb to this.”
Three people were killed and 14 others were injured after a gunman, whom police identified as Cedric Ford, opened fire in three locations, including the Excel Industries plant where he worked. The President said he called the mayor of Hesston, David Kauffman, Friday morning to express his condolences.
Obama emphasized that the issue of gun violence was not getting the attention that it deserved and had “become routine.” He also implored the media to keep reporting on stories about gun violence.
“I hope the media pays attention to this,” he said. “Once a week we have these shootings. And it doesn’t dominate the news and that has to change.”
Watch below via ABC News:
