On Thursday, Oct. 1, a 26-year-old gunman opened fire on Umpqua Community College in Oregon. Identified as Christopher Harper Mercer, the shooter died shortly after in a gunfire exchange with law enforcement. Although initial reports have been conflicting, it is clear that there were at least nine fatalities and close to a dozen injuries.

“Somehow this has become routine,” President Barack Obama said. “The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it … We have become numb to this.”

John Hanlin, the sheriff of Douglas County, made it clear that he would not discuss details about the shooter so as to not glorify his name.

“Let me be very clear, I will not name the shooter,” Hanlin said. “I will not give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and cowardly act.”

Hanlin also encouraged reporters to refrain from creating “sensationalism for him,” which Mercer absolutely does not deserve.

In a “routine” plea to the public to take action, Obama urged Americans to take a stand on the issue and encourage officials to change gun laws. The members of the Republican-controlled Congress, however, strongly oppose new measures.

“Each time this happens,” Obama said, “I am going to say we are going to have to do something about it. And we are going to have to change our laws.”

NBA star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers also voiced his thoughts against all the unnecessary violence in the United States.

At the time of violence back in 2012, James said, “For me, in any case, anything that goes on in our world or in our America, the only people that we should be worried about [are] the families that’s lost loved ones. You can’t get them back. You can never get them back. We should worry about the families and how they’re doing.”.

At a press conference following the shooting, Hanlin identified the victims (via CNN):

— Lucero Alcaraz, 19

— Treven Taylor Anspach, 20

— Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18

— Quinn Glen Cooper, 18

— Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59

— Lucas Eibel, 18

— Jason Dale Johnson, 34

— Lawrence Levine, 67 (teacher)

— Sarena Dawn Moore, 44

Obama ended the conference with an emotional statement as his previous anger seemed to change into sadness.

“Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we feel. And it does not prevent this carnage from being inflicted someplace else in America.”

Contributions by Haley Haverda