White House: Shooting an ‘all too common’ example of gun violence

by Jordan Fabian - 08/26/15 1:12 PM ET

The White House on Wednesday redoubled its call for tougher gun laws in the wake of a shooting that killed two television journalists in Virginia.

“This is another example of gun violence that is becoming all too common in communities large and small all across the United States,” Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday.

{mosads}Earnest said there are “common sense” steps Congress can take to reduce gun violence in America without infringing on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

The spokesman said he has not discussed the shooting with the president, but noted, “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the White House are with the families of those who were killed.”

Local television news reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were gunned down on Wednesday morning outside Roanoke, Va., by a suspect identified as Vester Lee Flanagan, a former employee of the television station.

Flanagan approached the pair as they were filming an interview at the Bridgewater Plaza and fired multiple shots in their direction. The harrowing incident was captured on live television.

The suspect posted video of the shooting on his social media account before reportedly shooting himself while being pursued by police.

The incident was the latest in a string of shootings that have cast a pall over Obama’s presidency.

Earlier this summer, nine people were killed at a historically black church in Charleston, S.C.

Tags Gun control Josh Earnest Virginia TV shooting