President Barack Obama's appeal to put politics aside may have done just the opposite for some, but two prominent local political operatives stand united.
"We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of politics," Obama said in his address following Friday's mass shooting at a school in Connecticut.
Jonathan Neerman, the former chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party, said he thought the president was spot on.
"The president in tragedies like this has to act as the mourner in chief for the country, and I though his tone was the right tone for the country," he said.
Neerman has a kindergarten-aged child and his wife teaches kindergarten.
"What I heard the president say is we have to put politics aside and deal with the tragedy of violence in our country," he said.
"I believe his comments that we need to take meaningful action is absolutely right," said Allen Vaught.
Vaught is a former Texas House Democrat and a decorated war veteran. He is a staunch gun rights advocate, but he said this tragedy stopped him cold because he too has two very young children.
While the men may be political polar opposites, they agreed that something has to be done.
"You're never going to stop violence. You're never going to stop gun violence, and if you took all the guns away they would use something else to kill people. You need to have barriers there," Vaught said.
"There are a lot of elements to that, but the biggest one has to be the importance of mental health and the role that that plays in our communities and our country," Neerman added.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 4:55 PM EDT2013-06-18 20:55:38 GMT
A man accused of fatally shooting a gay man walking with a companion in New York City's Greenwich Village pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of fatally shooting a gay man walking with a companion in New York City's Greenwich Village afterward claimed that he opened fire because the victim "thought he was tough in front of his bitch," prosecutors said in court papers Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:46 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:46:32 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
Riders should anticipate cancellations and delays on the Long Island Rail Road for the Tuesday evening rush. The railroad has canceled 21 trains that normally leave Penn Station between 3:27 and 7:01 p.m.
Riders should anticipate cancellations and delays on the Long Island Rail Road for the Tuesday evening rush. The railroad has canceled 21 trains that normally leave Penn Station between 3:27 and 7:01 p.m.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:32 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:32:12 GMT
NYC
Nearly 3 million New Yorkers' homes are now in evacuation zones that cover more than a third of the city's population, under new maps released Tuesday.
Nearly 3 million New Yorkers' homes are now in evacuation zones that cover more than a third of the city's population, under new maps released Tuesday.In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, officials said last month, the number of zones would double and encompass about 600,000 more residents.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:05 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:05:09 GMT
Police are looking for a man who stabbed another man in Times Square Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The victim was stabbed in the chest, the NYPD and FDNY said.
Police are looking for a man who stabbed another man in Times Square Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The victim was stabbed in the chest, the NYPD and FDNY said.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 1:18 PM EDT2013-06-18 17:18:24 GMT
It's a sight that can trigger dread. The low-battery message appears on your cell phone when there's no charger around.
It's a sight that can trigger dread. The low-battery message appears on your cell phone when there's no charger around. Now New York City has teamed up with AT&T to install 25 solar powered charging stations over the summer.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 12:20 PM EDT2013-06-18 16:20:04 GMT
The director of the National Security Agency said Tuesday the government's sweeping surveillance programs have foiled some 50 terrorist plots worldwide, including one directed at the New York Stock Exchange.
The director of the National Security Agency said Tuesday the government's sweeping surveillance programs have foiled some 50 terrorist plots worldwide, including one directed at the New York Stock Exchange.
