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President “Horrified”

April 16, 2007

By Peter Hardin, Richmond Times-Dispatch Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON — From the White House to the Capitol, U.S. leaders mourned the shootings at Virginia Tech as a national tragedy.

"Our nation is shocked and saddened by the news of the shootings at Virginia Tech," President Bush said yesterday in brief, televised remarks.

The president, who was described by a spokeswoman as horrified by the killings, said he had spoken with Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and Tech President Charles W. Steger and offered U.S. assistance.

"Schools should be places of safety and sanctuary and learning," Bush said. "When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community."

Both chambers of Congress observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims as leaders struggled to find words to describe the enormity of the shootings.

"The American people suffered a tragedy that defies our ability to comprehend," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "What we do know breaks our hearts and shakes us to our very core."

"As the Virginia Tech community struggles with the mourning and questioning that is certain to follow," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., "the continued prayers from this Congress are with the students, their families, the faculty and the staff at Virginia Tech."

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed for two days, because of the Virginia Tech shootings, its planned grilling today of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over the firings of eight federal prosecutors.

Rep. Rick Boucher, a Democrat whose 9th District includes Blacksburg, said, "This is a tremendous tragedy, for those who have been harmed, for the university, for the community. My thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones."

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said "the lives that were lost today were people who had in their early days demonstrated an enormous amount of promise."

Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, said "the effects of today's mass murder will unfortunately impact the lives of too many families forever.

Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd and chairman of the House subcommittee on crime, voiced a desire to "explore every possible avenue toward determining what can be done to prevent this kind of tragedy in the future."

The Virginia congressional delegation planned to travel to Blacksburg today in a show of sympathy and support.

"You can kind of put your arms around the situation and say, ‘We want to be here for you,’ " said Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th.

Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., in addition to remembering the victims, spoke of Virginia Tech’s future.

"Virginians are proud of this historic university, and how it has served our state and nation for nearly a century and a half as an exemplary institution of higher learning. That tradition will carry on."

Contact staff writer Peter Hardin at phardin@mediageneral.com or (202) 662-7669.

Sean Mussenden of Media General News Service contributed to this report.