“There is a lot of healing that will have to happen, both physically and emotionally. There’s no question that this experience is something that will stick with the trauma,” Harris told members of the media gathered at the scene of the Highland Park shooting. “I would urge all families and all individuals to seek the support you rightly deserve.”
Speaking about gun safety in the United States, the vice president continued: “We have to be smarter as a country about who has access to what — and specifically assault weapons. We have to take these things seriously. As serious as you are because you were forced to take it seriously. The entire nation needs to understand and have a level of empathy to understand that this can happen anywhere, in any peaceful community.”
Harris was accompanied by Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider and state Sen. Julie Morrison during the visit.
Rotering told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on “AC360” that her team “shares with (Harris) the deep grief our community is experiencing right now.”
“And she gave a very important message to our first responders that they need to take care of themselves,” the mayor said. “We know the scene was incredibly horrific – the aftermath. And it was important for them to hear that message that even though they’re healthy, they should be able to get the help they need.”
In a conversation Tuesday morning, Rothering invited the vice president to join her in Highland Park after Harris’ speech to the National Education Association in Chicago.
In those remarks, just miles from Highland Park, the vice president pointedly told Congress to “have the courage” to act on the assault weapons ban and to “stop protecting” gun manufacturers.
“Yesterday should have been a day to gather with family and friends to celebrate our nation’s independence, and instead this community suffered a terrible tragedy,” Harris said during the speech, adding that “we must stop this violence’.
“You know, I’ve said it before. That’s enough,” she said loudly. “I mean, here we are, our nation still grieving the loss of those 19 babies and their two teachers in Uvalde.”
President Joe Biden late last month signed the first major federal gun safety law in decades, marking a significant bipartisan breakthrough on one of Washington’s most contentious policy issues. The legislation was put together after the recent mass shootings at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, which was in a predominantly black neighborhood.
“God willing, it’s going to save a lot of lives,” Biden said at the White House as he finished signing the bill.
The suspect in Monday’s mass shooting has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder, Lake County District Attorney Eric Rinehart announced during a news conference Tuesday night.
If convicted, Robert E. Crimo III, 21, could face a mandatory life sentence and more charges are expected, including attempted murder, aggravated discharge and aggravated battery, Rinehart said.
Police said Crimo used a “powerful rifle” in the attack and may have planned the shooting “for several weeks.” He has been in police custody since he was arrested on Monday evening.
This story was updated with additional developments on Tuesday.
CNN’s Mary Kay Maloney and Nikki Carvajal contributed to this report.
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