U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden flew on Friday to Lewiston, Maine, to meet with families of the 18 people who were killed in an Oct. 25 shooting spree.
"Eighteen precious souls stolen. Thirteen wounded," Biden told family members and survivors. "All of them lived lives of love and service and sacrifice."
"Regardless of our politics,” he added, “this is about protecting our freedom to go to a bowling alley, a restaurant, a school, a church — without being shot and killed."
Stefanie Feldman, the head of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, issued a statement saying that Biden “is committed to doing everything in his power to stop the epidemic of gun violence tearing our communities apart and urging Congress to act on commonsense gun safety legislation."
While in Lewiston, the president and first lady met privately with victims' families as well as ambulance teams, nurses and others on the front lines of the response. The Bidens also visited memorials at Schemengees Bar & Grille and Just-in-Time Recreation, where the shootings took place just over a week ago.
Maine Governor Janet Mills, who had invited the Bidens, praised the president for his "unwavering support of us in the wake of last week's horrific tragedy."
"By visiting us in our time of need," Mills added, "the president and first lady are making clear that the entire nation stands with Lewiston and with Maine, and for that I am profoundly grateful."
Many Lewiston residents have raised questions about how and why the alleged shooter was able to obtain a gun.
Investigators say Robert Card, a U.S. Army reservist who was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound two days after the killings, spent time in a psychiatric facility this summer. The Army had directed that while on duty, Card "should not have a weapon, handle ammunition, and not participate in live fire activity."
In September, a deputy from the local sheriff's office was sent to check on Card twice after a soldier expressed concerns the reservist would "snap and commit a mass shooting."
