Obama calls Kansas mayor, offers his condolences over mass shooting

President Obama urged Americans Friday not to become “numb” to mass shootings such as the tragedies in Kansas and Michigan in the past week.

“These acts may not dominate the news today, but these are two more communities in America torn apart by grief,” Mr. Obama said after touring a battery manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, Florida. “I thought it was important for me to say something today because otherwise these sorts of shootings become routine. We cannot become numb to this.”

Mr. Obama called Mayor David Kauffman of Hesston, Kansas, from Air Force One to offer his condolences for the mass shooting at a lawnmower factory on Thursday.

Mr. Obama expressed gratitude to Mr. Kauffman for the police officer and other first responders “who acted quickly to save lives,” the White House said.

Police said gunman Cedric Ford got served a protection from abuse order before murdering three people and wounding 16 others.

In Jacksonville, Mr. Obama told the audience of plant workers that such shootings happen “far too many times and affected far too many innocent Americans.”

“As long as I’m president I’m going to keep on bringing this up,” Mr. Obama said. “Lord knows I wish I didn’t have to make these phone calls and comfort families. … The real tragedy is the degree to which this has become routine.”