President Obama tailored his weekly address on Saturday to American families’ increasing concerns for safety in light of last weekend’s mass shooting at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub.
Obama said he met with some of the families of the 49 victims on Thursday and reassured them the U.S. has strengthened its resolve to defeat these attacks, despite reports from federal officials that the U.S. is losing.
“We are and we will keep doing everything in our power to stop these kinds of attacks, and to ultimately destroy ISIL,” Obama said.
The president reiterated calls for tougher gun control, two days after more than 30 Senate Democrats filibustered the topic for more than 15 hours.
“It’s unconscionable that we allow easy access to weapons of war in these places — and then, even after we see parents grieve for their children, the fact that we as a country do nothing to prevent the next heartbreak makes no sense,” Obama said.
Obama’s final call to action was not policy-related, but timely, in honor of Father’s Day on Sunday. The father of two urged parents to lead by example in love for all people and not being silent in the face of adversity.
“We need our kids to hear from us why tolerance and equality matter — about the times their absence has scarred our history and how greater understanding will better the future they will inherit,” Obama said. “We need our kids to hear our words — and also see us live our own lives with love.”
