Florida school shooting: Barack Obama calls for 'long overdue' tougher gun laws after 17 killed in Parkland massacre

Barack Obama has called for “long overdue” gun safety laws to be implemented in the US after a 17 people were killed in a shooting rampage at a Florida school.

The former US President’s plea came as his successor Donald Trump made no reference to gun laws in his first official address following the devastating massacre in Parkland.

Weapons-obsessed teenager Nikolas Cruz, 19, has been charged with murder of 17 pupils and teachers at his former high school as grieving parents asked: “Why wasn’t he stopped?”

Mr Obama said “we have to change” if deadly attacks like Wednesday’s mass shooting are to be stopped, and that tougher firearms laws are what “most Americans want”.

In an emotional message to his 100 million Twitter followers, he wrote: “We are grieving with Parkland. But we are not powerless. Caring for our kids is our first job.

“And until we can honestly say that we're doing enough to keep them safe from harm, including long overdue, common-sense gun safety laws that most Americans want, then we have to change.”

Florida high school shooting - February 2018

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In his televised speech directly addressing America’s children, Mr Trump said: “I want you to know that you are never alone and you never will be."

The US leader also told victims of the tragedy: "In these moments of heartache and darkness, we hold onto God's word in Scripture: 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.'"

He vowed to tackle mental health issues and said that America must “work together to change US culture to “embrace life”.

Dismissing the US leader’s message of support, the girl, known only as Sarah and believed to be 16 years old, called for gun control measures in a furious post on Twitter.

Cruz was booked into the Broward County Jail on Thursday morning
AFP/Getty Images

She wrote on the social media site: “I don’t want your condolences you f****** price [sic] of s***, my friends and teachers were shot. Multiple of my fellow classmates are dead.

“Do something instead of sending prayers. Prayers won’t fix this. But gun control will prevent it from happening again.”

The alleged gunman Cruz was escorted in handcuffs to county jail, where he will wait until his first court hearing. He was dressed in a hospital uniform as he was seen leaving the Broward County Sheriff’s Office after a night of questioning.

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