President Biden Conveys Solidarity to Maine Community Shaken by Tragic Shooting

In a solemn visit to the Maine town traumatized by a devastating mass shooting, President Joe Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, paid their respects with a moment of silence and laid white flowers at an impromptu memorial set up outside Schemengees Bar and Grille, the location of the state’s most deadly shooting incident to date.

The President offered a comforting embrace to Kathy Lebel, proprietor of the bar, which was the scene of eight fatalities during the October 25th tragedy. The adjacent Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley was also a site of the massacre, where seven lives were taken, in addition to three fatalities that occurred at medical facilities.

On his visit to Lewiston last Friday, President Biden fulfilled the role often shouldered by presidents in the wake of such tragedies: providing solace to bereaved families and affirming support for a community in mourning. Regrettably, these visits have become increasingly routine, even after the enactment of bipartisan gun safety legislation last year following yet another mass shooting, and the issuance of several executive orders by the President aiming to reduce gun violence.

“We have been through this far too many times,” President Biden remarked while at the bowling alley, flanked by police officers, emergency medical technicians, and first responders to the shooting. “Jill and I are present to ensure, on behalf of all Americans, that you understand your grief is shared—you are not alone.”

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The shooting spree not only claimed 18 lives but also left 13 individuals wounded. The perpetrator, Robert Card, 40 years old and a gun instructor by profession, was later discovered deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an extensive manhunt.

Law enforcement revealed that concerns about Card’s deteriorating psychological health had been reported by his family to the local sheriff five months before the tragedy. Card had been subject to a mental health assessment after manifesting erratic behavior at a training establishment the previous summer.

Signage strewn across the town bore messages like “Fix the mental health system” and the succinct plea to “Be nice.” In the hallways of the local elementary school, children’s notes proclaiming “Lewiston strong” and affirmations of safety were displayed.

In a resolute stance against gun violence in America, the Democratic President has incorporated the issue into his reelection campaign. He has established the inaugural gun violence prevention office within the White House, tasked with implementing the recent landmark gun safety law and devising new solutions. A leading member of this office was on site in Maine this week to assist with the federal response. The President has continued to advocate for an assault weapons ban.

“We are dealing with simple common sense,” he expressed on Friday. “Reasonable, responsible actions to safeguard our children, our families, our communities. This transcends political affiliations; it concerns the freedom to visit public places without falling victim to gunfire.”

This incident adds to a series of communities that the President has visited in the aftermath of mass shootings, including Buffalo, New York; Uvalde, Texas; and Monterey Park, California, within the past year.

“With today’s mourning in Maine, the agony reverberates nationwide,” stated President Biden. “An excessive number of Americans have encountered the loss of loved ones or have endured the trauma inflicted by gun violence.”

According to a database compiled by The Big Big News, USA Today, and Northeastern University, the U.S. has witnessed no fewer than 37 mass killings this year, culminating in at least 195 deaths, not counting the deceased assailants.

Local residents continued to visit the memorial at Schemengees throughout the morning. While President Biden’s presence may provide some consolation to the city, residents like John Murphy from New Gloucester lament the tragic circumstances prompting the visit. “It’s unfortunate that the President’s visit is under such somber conditions,” he stated.

Murphy, 70, suggested it might be a long journey towards recovery for the town, praising Maine for its beauty and peacefulness.

Memorials also adorned Just-In-Time, the bowling alley where the fatal events began, with signs declaring “Lewiston Strong! Remembering our loss from October 25, 2023.”

Michele Stapleton from Brunswick welcomed the President’s attention to gun safety. “Having a President who openly addresses gun safety is heartening. Politicians have shied away from this topic for too long,” she remarked.

The recent events have spurred the local populace to seek answers.

Elizabeth Seal, who tragically lost her spouse Josh, shared her frustration about the accessibility of semi-automatic weapons in an interview. “While I normally have no qualms with guns, for traditions like hunting or personal protection, the availability of semi-automatic weapons that can inflict such havoc is bewildering,” she conveyed through an interpreter, hoping for legislative change. “This issue seems uniquely American, not prevalent in other countries.”

An AP/NORC poll indicates that a majority of Americans, regardless of their state’s current gun laws, are in favor of more stringent gun regulations, linking this sentiment to the belief that fewer guns might result in fewer mass shootings.

President Biden was apprised of the massacre amidst a state dinner at the White House in honor of Australia. He took a moment to consult with Maine’s Governor Janet Mills and congressional representatives over the phone. On Friday, Governor Mills and Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline spoke of a community in the process of healing.

“We are a resilient, strong community accustomed to hard work,” Mayor Sheline declared. “Yet, we are unprepared for the deep mourning and sorrow brought by the loss of 18 lives to such senseless violence.”

Long from Washington reported this story. Contributions to this report were made by David Sharp, a writer for The Big Big News in Portland, Maine.

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More about Maine mass shooting

• Biden’s Address in Lewiston
• Maine Mass Shooting Coverage
• Bipartisan Gun Safety Law
• Executive Orders on Gun Violence
• The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
• 2023 U.S. Mass Shootings Data
• AP/NORC Poll on Gun Laws
• The Big Big News Reports