Kamala Harris wants US gun violence 'epidemic' to end after Georgia school shooter kills four

NORTH HAMPTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Kamala Harris urged Americans to bring an end to gun violence after she was briefed on the mass shooting at a Georgia school on Wednesday, September 4.

At least four people were killed and many others were injured in the incident at Apalachee High School. The suspect, a 14-year-old male, is currently in custody, reported Daily Mail.

Kamala Harris addresses Georgia school tragedy

Speaking during an event in New Hampshire, Kamala Harris deviated from her prepared remarks to address the tragedy and expressed her sympathy and frustration over the continuing epidemic of gun violence in the United States.

"You know, I'm going off script right now, but listen," she told the audience. "Our hearts are with all the students, the teachers and their families, of course, and we are grateful to the first responders and law enforcement."

Shifting her tone to convey her deep frustration, the vice president said, "This is just a senseless tragedy. On top of so many senseless tragedies."

"And it's just outrageous, that every day in our country in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive," she added.

Kamala Harris draws comparison to her own school days

Stressing that gun violence must end and that change is possible, Kamala Harris said, "It's senseless. We've got to stop it. and we have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all."

"You know, it doesn't have to be this way. It doesn't have to be this way," the Democratic presidential candidate noted. "I traveled our country, meeting with our young leaders. So it was college-aged young leaders, trade schools, colleges, universities," she added.

"I'll tell you, one of the things that I asked every time I went to the auditorium, and it would be filled with these young leaders, students, and I'd ask them, raise your hand if at any point between kindergarten and 12th grade you had to endure an active shooter drill," she continued.

Drawing a comparison to her own upbringing, Harris recalled, "I grew up in California, we had earthquake drills. We had fire drills."

"But our kids are sitting in a classroom where they should be fulfilling their god-given potential, and some part of their big, beautiful brain is concerned about a shooter busting through the door of the classroom," she said.

"It does not have to be this way," Harris added.