Let's go to Highland Park. Now to hear more about how that community
is coping and the questions surrounding the shooting. Nancy Rotering
is the mayor and she joins me now, Madam Mayor. Thank you.
For being here and you do have our deepest condolences. We know that
1/7 person has died. What is it? Well over 30 people wounded Can
you tell us anymore about those who are still in the hospital?
The folks who are still in the hospital have a broad range of injuries,
and they are scattered throughout regional hospitals. So, um, we
are obviously trying to respect the the terror and sadness that their
families are experiencing right now and trying to give them their
space.
But understand that you know these were. This is a weapon of war
meant to destroy human life, and so people are dealing with a broad
range of injuries.
And what about the people in your community? How are they? How are
they doing?
We are in deep, deep mourning. Um, yesterday was more of a matter
of shock and disbelief that this had actually happened in our community.
Today. It is a day of just
Share sadness. Wherever I go, we're hugging crying.
And people are in so much pain right now, Rotering. We've just learned
that among the victims were the both parents of a two year old child.
What do you know about this? And what's being done for that family?
That to me was one of the most heartbreaking stories of yesterday.
My understanding is that the baby was retrieved from underneath his
father.
And was carried to safety.
We spent hours trying to locate the parents and when it became clear
that nobody was asking about the child
I suspected the worst.
He is safely with his grandparents. There are two efforts to assist
all of the victims of the situation.
They're both available on our city Websites front page. Well, we
can only imagine yet another incident.
Like this, Madam Mayor, we watched the news conference that you and
the police officers officials had a short time ago and we understand
that there were two
Encounters with the suspect in 2019 1. In the spring of that year
after he attempted suicide, his family contacted police no charges,
then again later that year.
Where there were knives, sword and so forth again. No charges, but
police were made aware should more have been done in 2019. I'm confident
that what the police did was within their capabilities under the
law. We did, um
Notify the Illinois state police and the 2019 event.
And, um, we'll leave it at that. But there's
You know, we need to talk about the fact that so many people in this
country who should not have access to guns or having access to guns,
and that's an issue that's unique to the United States. We know that
throughout the world, people have mental illness. They have anger
issues.
They don't have access to these large capacity, magazines and weapons
that are frankly used in combat.
And and that's what I want to ask you about because these weapons
he used apparently
Ah, we're still getting information, but they were apparently obtained
legally. He's 21 years old. It begs the question. I mean, this is
a community Highland Park, Illinois, where they're relatively tough.
Gun control laws on the books. And yet he was able to get these guns
and do this right. And so within our assault weapons ban and large
capacity magazine ban, he obviously broke that law.
But the problem is throughout our country. There aren't very many
communities that are banning these these combat weapons. We need
to have a national approach that says this is not part of what a
civilized society has on its streets. We represented the values of
our community and did what we could within the confines of the law.
I've been in touch with the governor. I've been in touch with the
Senate president and the House speaker. We need to change legislation
in Illinois. But frankly, we need to change legislation in the United
States. We're surrounded by states with very lady in gun laws.
And so we are doing our part as much as we can. But we as a country
need to come together and say enough with the carnage. This is an
almost weekly event, and I heard from several mayors yesterday who
they themselves had been through this experience.
There's a handbook that's sent to mayors in the wake of a mass shooting.
That's unbelievable to me that this is what happens to a community
who only wants to gather to celebrate freedom.
And ends up feeling with basically this horror on our hands. I hear
you saying this Madam mayor, And yet the Congress, As you know, just
passed a law last week they were applauded for finally coming together
to do something. And just today, the Senate
Republican leader Mitch McConnell is saying the problem is mental
health, and it does appear to be an issue.
In this shooting, but but clearly that's not enough. I mean, these
shootings are still happening on a regular basis.
And let's pose the argument that there are people with mental health
issues and other countries that do not have to endure this kind of
violence on a weekly basis. So, Mitch, you're right.
We do need to put more resources towards mental health care. But
there's a second wrong and that is diminishing access to weapons
that are used in combat. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and again
our deep condolences to you and your entire community. Thank you
very much.