Colorado leaders are reacting after a gunman opened fire in a Boulder King Soopers on Monday, killing 10 people, including a Boulder police officer. Here are some of the reactions:
President Joe Biden
Biden is expected to speak publicly about the Boulder mass shooting at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. Watch is below.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, who represents the Boulder area
“Today’s events are simply devastating. Like my fellow Coloradans, my heart is heavy, in grief and in anguish. Andrea and I are heartbroken, and we are praying tonight for our entire community in Boulder — for the victims and their families — including a police officer who tragically lost their life in the line of duty — for the survivors, for the frontline grocery store employees, and for the brave first responders and local law enforcement whose heroism truly saved lives. And we offer our heartfelt condolences to the many families mourning their loved ones. The loss of life is truly heartbreaking and unimaginable.
I’ve lived in Boulder County for nearly two decades. My wife was born in Boulder. And we both know this — our community is strong, it is kind, and it is resilient, and we will come together and support each other during this tragedy. In the difficult days ahead, I will continue to work with law enforcement and state authorities to ensure they have the resources they need, and we stand ready to assist our community in this moment of tremendous sadness. Our office is available to provide resources and answer questions, and we encourage our constituents to utilize the mental health resources available in Boulder County, including those detailed below. You can also learn more about these resources by contacting our office: (303) 335-1045. We are with you as we heal together from this tragedy.
While there is still a lot we do not yet know, one thing is very clear — tragic incidents of gun violence have plagued our country for far too long.
Twenty-one years ago, as a young student in Douglas County, I joined many Coloradans in weeping for the victims of the terrible massacre at Columbine High ten minutes from my high school. Two years ago, I felt the fear that so many Coloradans experienced learning of the shooting at the STEM School in Highlands Ranch, where my niece — a kindergartner — was locked down, as we all wept at the tragic loss of life. And tonight, I weep for the families of my constituents, who have tragically lost their lives in yet another mass shooting.
Enough is enough.
Americans should feel safe in their grocery stores. They should feel safe in their schools, their movie theaters and in their communities. While Congress dithers on enacting meaningful gun violence prevention measures, Americans — and Coloradans — are being murdered before our very eyes — day after day, year after year.
It doesn’t have to be this way. There are steps we can take — and must take — to protect our community; common-sense, broadly supported proposals that will save lives. If we are truly invested in saving lives, then we must have the willpower to act and to pass meaningful gun reform. The time for inaction is over.”
Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver
“Words can do no justice to the tragedy that has unfolded this afternoon. Our community will soon grieve our losses, and begin our healing. Our brave police officers and first responders have the gratitude of our entire city.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis
“Today, ten lives were tragically lost, including Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley. Officer Talley served more than ten years with the Boulder Police Department and tragically lost his life at the age of 51 while working to save the lives of others.
And tonight, the families of these victims, our fellow Coloradans, my neighbors, are hearing the devastating news that their loved one who simply woke up and went to work this morning, or who ran out to pick up eggs, won’t be coming home. Our community anxiously awaits more information on the victims, hoping it’s not our friends, coworkers and neighbors but knowing in our tight knit community it will be, and even if we don’t personally know them, we all mourn their senseless killing and our sense of safety in our local grocery store.
This year we have all been surrounded by loss of life, illness and isolation, and the deep grief that has accompanied the loss of life as we knew it. As spring sprung this weekend, and vaccines continue to get into arms, lightness creeped back in only for the darkness to descend on us again today. Today we saw the face of evil. I am grieving with my community and all Coloradans.”
Vice President Kamala Harris
“It’s absolutely baffling, it’s 10 people going about their day living their lives, not bothering anybody. A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism.”
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow
“Once again, I woke up this morning and prepared for that uniquely American ritual: talking to my kids about another mass shooting. I’m a father, but I also represent a community that has experienced too much of this violence. Aurora, Columbine, STEM School. They are not just names of places to me. They represent the faces of the victims, survivors, and families that I now represent in Congress. They are communities that still bear the visible and invisible scars of America’s failure to respond. Students, teachers, and parents tell me that they are scared and tired thinking about when and where the next one will be. The threat of gun violence now permeates our everyday lives. We do not need to live like this.
“My heart is heavy and the anguish of our community is deep. But it’s more painful because it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a path open to us that could transform our communities into a safer place for our children. We know what we need to do. The community will always have my thoughts and prayers. But I’m a lawmaker, and my job is to help make laws and policies that will stop this crisis. That’s what my community deserves, and that’s what I will do. It’s long past time for gun safety laws that will help end this madness.”
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper
“Our state grieves tonight as we mourn ten more Coloradans senselessly killed by gun violence – including police officer Eric Talley. Our thoughts are with the victims’ loved ones, and we are grateful to the frontline workers and first responders whose bravery saved lives.
“We all share Boulder’s pain – pain that hits home. Columbine, Arapahoe, Platte Canyon, STEM School Highlands Ranch, Planned Parenthood, Aurora – and now Boulder. More needs to be done to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. Enough is enough.”
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet
“My heart goes out to the families of the Coloradans, including a Boulder police officer, whose lives were tragically taken by a senseless act of gun violence. I am deeply grateful for the swift response from law enforcement and first responders. As the investigation continues, we need to revisit a national conversation about gun violence that does not regress into partisanship. It’s long past time for Congress to take meaningful action to keep deadly weapons out of the wrong hands. There are steps that the overwhelming majority of Americans want us to take. And they have every right to expect us to finally do something about gun violence in our country. Enough is enough.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
“I’m deeply saddened and angered with the news of another tragic shooting in Colorado. I’m thinking of all our fellow Coloradans in Boulder who were affected by the unspeakable violence that occurred at King Soopers on Table Mesa. As we learn more about the incident, I’m thankful for the brave law enforcement officials and first responders who are assisting victims, securing the scene, and putting themselves in harm’s way. Our office is standing ready and is committed to helping in any way that is useful.”
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck
“My prayers are with the families of the victims of today’s tragedy in Boulder. I join the entire community of Boulder in grieving the senseless loss of life. I am grateful for the officers who responded to the scene within minutes. You are true heroes.”
U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter
“I am devastated to learn of yet another incident of gun violence in our community. As a two-time graduate of CU Boulder, the city holds a special place for me, my family and our state. My heart breaks for those impacted by today’s violence.
“I want to extend my appreciation for law enforcement and first responders at the scene. Gun violence is becoming too common in our daily lives, and we must at all levels make the epidemic of gun violence less easy, less frequent and less deadly.”
U.S. Rep. Diana Degette
“Our hearts go out to everyone in the Boulder area. We can’t continue to live like this. We have to do more to protect our communities from the constant threat of gun violence. We have to find a way to come together and collectively declare: Enough is enough!”
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert
“Like most Coloradans, I woke up this morning grieving the loss of innocent life that took place yesterday. I am praying to God above who is known as ‘The Great Comforter’ to provide peace, comfort, and healing to those who have lost a loved one. … My heart hurts for their friends and family, the community, and for our great state as we mourn together.
“While some elected officials have already started using this shooting to advance a political agenda, I refuse to do so. I will not blame society at large for the sick actions of one man and I will not allow lawbreakers to dictate the rights of law-abiding citizens.”
Former President Barack Obama
“Michelle and I grieve with the families of the victims of the shooting in Boulder, just as we grieve with the families of the people killed in Atlanta and everyone else who has lost a loved one to gun violence.
“We are also grateful for the courage of Officer Eric Talley, who ran into danger to protect others, and we hope his memory and the memory of all those we’ve lost will not be in vain. Because in addition to grief, we are also feeling a deep, familiar outrage that we as a nation continue to tolerate these kinds of random, senseless acts day in and day out without taking any significant action—an outrage that people in Colorado have known far too often over the years.
“In so many ways, our lives may soon start to return to normal after a long, difficult year filled with so much loss. But in a normal life, we should be able to buy groceries without fear. We should be able to go to school, or go out with our friends, or worship together without mentally planning our escape if someone shows up with a gun. We should be able to live our lives without wondering if the next trip outside our home could be our last.
“We should. But in America, we can’t.
“It is long past time for those with the power to fight this epidemic of gun violence to do so. It will take time to root out the disaffection, racism and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence. But we can make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war. We can overcome opposition by cowardly politicians and the pressure of a gun lobby that opposes any limit on the ability of anyone to assemble an arsenal. We can, and we must.
“A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country. We shouldn’t have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. It’s time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enough — because this is a normal we can no longer afford.”
