Donald Trump has shared his thoughts on gun laws following a horrific mass shooting at Florida State University.
It comes after a student used his police officer mother’s gun to kill two people at the university on Thursday (17 April), police have said (via the BBC).
A further six people were injured in the attack and have been taken to hospital.
Florida State University Police shot and wounded 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner at the scene after the gunman refused to comply with commands, Associated Press reports.
Police Chief Jason Trumbower said the gunman shot at individuals around the student union building. The two deceased victims have not yet been identified, however, police say they aren’t students.
Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said the alleged shooter is related to a former sheriff deputy, who has been with the force for more than 18 years.
Two are dead and six are in hospital (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images)
“This is obviously a heinous crime,” Mr McNeil said. “We will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say across the state and across this nation.”
President Trump was asked about the shooting in the Oval Office Thursday while speaking with reporters. He was asked by a journalist if he would make any changes to gun legislation following the shooting.
“I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment, I have been from the beginning,” he said. “I protected it.”
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
“These things are terrible. But the gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do — a phrase that’s used probably too often,” Trump continued. “It’s a shame. I’m just hearing about it now. I know the area very well, I know the school very well, it’s Florida.”
The 78-year-old said he would ‘have more to say’ about the incident and ‘what happened’ specifically at a later date.
Although Trump doesn’t plan on changing gun laws anytime soon, as he added: “This has been going on for a long time. I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment, I ran on the Second Amendment among many other things, and I will always protect the Second Amendment.”
US President Donald Trump has commented on the tragic mass shooting at Florida State University on Thursday (17 April) (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
According to the BBC, the student newspaper of the University reported that the suspect was a was a protester at a campus demonstration against Trump’s inauguration in January.
However, his quotes to FSUNews.com were reportedly removed on Thursday.
This isn’t the first case of a shooting at Florida State University after a graduate shot and injured three people before he was gunned down by police.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: “Our prayers are with our FSU family and state law enforcement is actively responding.”
Featured Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
