by Rick Pearson
AKRON, Ohio—Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton today expressed her condolences to the families of victims in the tragic shooting at Northern Illinois University and said it was part of a disturbing trend of gun violence at schools involving the mentally ill.
Clinton, speaking from the floor of a machine-parts plant owned by aviation and defense contractor Lockheed-Martin Corp., also said the event should prompt a review of how to protect gun-owner rights while finding ways to keep guns away from those who suffer from mental illness.
Here are her brief remarks on the subject to the plant’s workers:
“I was born in Illinois. I’m from the Midwest and I’ve been to Northern Illinois University and I was deeply saddened by the terrible shootings that occurred there yesterday.
“My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones. As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak and grief that racks the families who send their children off to college and wake up to see what has so senselessly intruded into their lives. They’re all in my prayers.
“But this is part of a profoundly disturbing pattern of gun violence on campuses and at schools. And it’s particularly troubling because it appears that once again, the shooter had a history of mental illness.
“We just have to figure out how we’re going to get smart about protecting our kids because obviously, we have to first and foremost do everything we can to take reasonable steps to keep our children safe and while safeguarding and respecting our Second Amendment rights, we’ve got to figure out how to get guns out of the hands of criminals, terrorists, gang members and people with mental health problems.
“Certainly I am deeply saddened and send my prayers and best wishes to those who were directly affected.”
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