Barack Obama reveals his biggest regret from his time in office
Barack Obama’s Biggest Regret: Former US President Speaks Out About His Lowest Point — And Why It Still Affects Years After His Tenure
- Obama regretted not being able to review gun laws
- He said the Sandy Hook massacre was his “darkest day” in office
Barack Obama has revealed that not being able to review gun laws in the wake of one of America’s deadliest school shootings was one of his biggest regrets and lows since his tenure.
The former US president opened up about the need for gun control after the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, which killed 26 people, 20 of them children, during a speech at a leadership event in Sydney on Tuesday evening.
“That was the closest thing I’ve ever had to feeling very cynical about the ability of politics, of people, to do the obvious together,” he told the crowd at the International Convention Center.
“You run your race as best you can and you try to make a good transfer and you have to get satisfaction from feeling that you have done the very best with the time allotted to you.
Barack Obama (pictured in Sydney) has revealed that not being able to review gun laws in the wake of America’s deadliest school shooting was one of his biggest regrets and lows during his tenure.
“I think not changing the gun laws was an example of how I tried really hard… but we couldn’t fool Congress.”
Obama has previously said the day of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was the “darkest day” of his presidency, adding that it was the only time he saw members of the Secret Service cry.
In the weeks following the attack, Obama called on Congress to make extensive reforms to the country’s gun laws, including banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazine weapons, and stepping up background checks on those who purchase guns.
His comments came just a day after another devastating US shooting that killed three children and three staff at The Covenant School in Nashville.
The gunman, Audrey Hale, an ex-student of the school, was shot dead by police.
Armed with two rifles and a pistol, she had carefully planned the murder.
Audrey Hale shot and killed six people at The Covenant School in Nashville before being shot dead by police
The transgender shooter – who was born female but was often referred to as “Aiden” and used the pronouns “he/him” – held a “resentment” about having to go to school herself as a child.
She shot and killed head teacher Katherine Koonce in the hallway in a “murder” style killing, in addition to shooting church custodian Mike Hill and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak.
Hale also killed three nine-year-old students; Hallie Scraggs, William Kinney and Evelyn Dieckhaus.