Newtown: one year after the shooting, Obama pays tribute to the 26 victims

Bells rang 26 times Saturday morning in Newtown (Connecticut ) , in tribute to the 20 children and six adults killed there a year in a primary school in the city , a massacre with an assault rifle that had traumatized the United States .

Flags flew at half-mast , as throughout the state of Connecticut ( northeast ) , and the name of the victims was read in the church of St. Rose of Lima, in the small snowy town at 9:30 am, the time of tragedy last year. Several other prayer ceremonies were planned in the churches of Newtown for this painful anniversary.

The press was asked to stay away , to meet the need of meditation families. Some of them had also preferred to leave Newtown, to protect their grief still raw.

A minute of silence at the White House

Organizations " mayors against the illegal firearms ," and " Moms demand action ' (mums asking us to act ) had also planned ceremonies in more than 35 states, in tribute to victims of Newtown and " thousands Americans killed by gun violence each year. "

In less than 11 minutes, December 14, 2012 , Adam Lanza, 20, who had forced an assault rifle entering the Sandy Hook Elementary School , killed 20 children in two classes of CP , the two teachers , their two assistants , the director and psychologist, before committing suicide . He had previously killed his mother in her bed. His motives were never clarified.

U.S. President Barack Obama has also been observed Saturday at the White House a minute of silence for the 26 victims of Sandy Hook, whose buildings were recently razed. Barack Obama and his wife Michelle lit 26 candles in their memory , before gathering a few moments, without making any statements.

Obama: " We need to change " ==>


In his weekly address , he had previously called for "change" to avoid further tragedies. "There was just one year , a quiet , peaceful town was hit by a nameless violence ," said the president in a solemn tone in its recorded from the White House message. "Six of dedicated school employees and 20 beautiful children have lost their lives ."

" But beyond the sadness , we also felt the determination of: determining that stop this kind of tragedy , and that to stop them , we must change," he said.

We must do more to prevent dangerous people can easily end up with a weapon in the hands , "he told Barack Obama.

" We must do more to heal the disturbed minds. We must do everything to protect our children," he insisted. " And we can not lose sight of the fact that real change will not come from Washington," the president said . "They come from where they always come , that is to say, you Americans ."

25 school shootings in the past 12 months

The massacre of Newtown was revived once more very sensitive debate on the control of firearms. Some states have since tightened their legislation , but the vast desired by the President at the national level reform was shattered in April on the refusal of the Senate.

The last twelve months , the organization "Sandy Hook promise" recorded 25 shootings in American schools. The final took place on Friday in Colorado (west). A 18 year old who wanted a teacher wounded two students at Centennial High School in suburban Denver, before committing suicide .

Despite the efforts of President Obama , Congress declined after Sandy Hook to tighten federal legislation on firearms. Nearly 200 children have been killed by firearms in the United States .