Obama leads moment of silence for Aurora victims

President Barack Obama takes a moment of silence for the events in Colorado during a campaign stop in Fort Myers, Fla., Friday, July 19, 2012. Obama said the tragic movie theater shooting in Colorado that left 12 people dead is a reminder that life is fragile. He says the event "reminds us of all the ways that we are united as one American family."

/ AP Photo/Alan Diaz

Updated at 5:11 p.m. ET

(CBS News) In response to the Colorado mass shooting in which at least 12 people were killed and dozens injured, President Obama on Friday morning cut short his planned campaign stops in Florida and chose instead to lead a moment of silence for the victims.

"There are going to be other days for politics," Mr. Obama said in Ft. Myers, Florida. "This, I think, is a day for prayer and reflection."

The president thanked the gathered crowd and told them he was grateful for their support.

"I was looking forward to having a fun conversation with you about some really important matters we face as a country... the differences between myself and my opponent in this election," he said. "But this morning we woke up to news of a tragedy that reminds us of all the ways we are united as one American family."

At around 12:30 a.m. Friday morning, a gas mask-wearing gunman opened fire at the Century 16 theaters in Aurora, Colorado, where the latest Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" was playing. The suspected gunman, identified as 24-year-old James Holmes, is in custody.

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The president told his supporters that officials are still gathering the facts and that the federal government "stands ready to do whatever's necessary" to bring the responsible party to justice.

"We will take every step possible to ensure the safety of all of our people," he said. "We're going to stand by our neighbors in Colorado in this extremely difficult time."

Watch CBS This Morning report on Mr. Obama's initial statement on the shooting.

Mr. Obama called the shooting "senseless" and "beyond reason," adding, "We may never understand what leads anybody to terrorize their fellow human beings... If there's anything to take away from this tragedy it's the reminder that life is very fragile... Our time here is limited and it is precious."

The president personalized his reflections on the event, noting that his daughters go to the movies.

"What if Malia and Sasha had been in the theater, as so many of our kids do every day?" he asked. "Michelle and I will be fortunate enough to hug our girls a little tighter tonight. For those parents who may not be so lucky, we have to embrace them and let them know we will be there for them as a nation."

Mr. Obama was initially slated to make two stops in Florida on Friday, where he planned to address Mitt Romney's most recent political attacks against him. However, after learning about the shooting, his campaign canceled an event in Winter Park, Florida and cut the Ft. Myers event short.

After returning to Washington, Mr. Obama immediately gathered a meeting to discuss the shooting with Vice President Joe Biden, FBI Director Robert Mueller, Chief of Staff Jacob Lew, Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan, White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler and adviser Valerie Jarrett. Attorney General Eric Holder is out of country and could not attend.

Also after returning, Mr. Obama spoke to Aurora, Colo., Police Chief Dan Oates from the Oval office and told him "that his and Michelle's thoughts and prayers are with the community of Aurora, particularly the local first responders who have performed well under difficult and stressful circumstances," according to a statement from the White House. The statement continued, "The President also told Chief Oates that he should expect the full support of the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies moving forward, including any resources they need to handle the ongoing situation at the suspect's apartment."

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan during the motorcade ride to Palm Beach International Airport in Palm Beach, Fla., July 20, 2012. The President called Mayor Hogan to offer his condolences and support to the Aurora community.

/ Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The president also Friday afternoon issued a proclamation ordering the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset, July 25, 2012, to honor the victims of the shooting.

Romney also decided to take a break from politics Friday. Instead of holding the typical campaign event scheduled for the day, Romney used his appearance in Bow, New Hampshire to talk about the shooting.

"I stand before you today not as a man running for office but as a father and grandfather, a husband, an American," he said. "This is a time for each of us to look into our hearts and remember how much we love one another and how much we love and how much we care for our great country."

Both First Lady Michelle Obama's and Ann Romney's scheduled events were also canceled for the day.

Additionally, the Obama campaign told CBS News that they have asked Colorado television stations to stop running all campaign ads (not just those attacking Romney) "for the time being." The campaign adds, "It takes time for stations to be able to do this, but we are making every effort."

The Romney campaign also said in an email that they're "pulling all ads in CO until further notice."

[OMah944]

I think both Romney and Obama showed that they were "class acts" by cancelling their campaign ads in Colo. and making yesterday a non-campaign day. Now I hope that we can have serious discussions about keeping crazy people from getting assault weapons. The courts have decimated the Brady Bill and the ban on assault weapons is terminated. There must be another way we can keep ourselves safe from people who go "postal". Gerald Loughner was a paranoid schizophrenic, but nobody got him into treatment. Think of all the trained killer vets we have in our midst who are not being treated for their PTSD, and how about the people who are at their wits end with financial burdens and job losses? What about people with other compound stressors like abuse victims, people threatened with job loss--and others who are literally at the end of their ropes? It takes a split second for someone to snap....

[Molly-Pchr]

Hateful people here. "Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated."GB Shaw

[hypnotoad72]

Wasn't Shaw a communist?

Actually, he was a "Fabian Socialist"... But he also praised Mussolini, a man who had a thing to say about corporatism (he was for it)...

[ParadoxisOK]

Thank you NRA for another magic moment of murder!

The weapons and body armor that this idiot got his hands onto are available everywhere in the states, that in and unto itself should be a crime! Not one of these weapons were designed for hunting or self defense of a home, they were designed for the use of those trained with their use in military situations. It is a joke to think that there are those out there in good ole hateful AmeriKa that still think it these sorts of killing tools should be allowed for sale to anyone that can buy them.

I think that after the smoke clears, the police, FBI and other agencies of the government should find out who sold these weapons to this idiot and arrest them and throw the book at them, as well as the main idiotic culprit that did this.

The roots for this deed are deep in the AmeriKa of the NRA! Shame on them.

[ParadoxisOK]

Your Hypocrisy has not bounds, Lucas4440.
If it were your child, wife, son, daughter, mother, father, brother, sister in that movie theater, I do think that you would sing a very different tune.

Buy since you've apparently none of these, you don't have to care.

[hypnotoad72]

Siding with ParadoxisOK on this.

[jwindsDAD]

by theshark82 July 20, 2012 2:43 PM EDT
There are libs saying negative things about Romney about it as well. YOu calling them out as well?
+++++++++++++++++++
Still carrying a grudge against those lib kids that beat you up on the playground jimmyboy? Yet they are all more succesful than you will ever be.

[rksharma-2009]

It is sad that Obama haters find negative things to say about this president who has tirelessly worked to unite this country. His presidency has made many at the right promote to pick up arms and shoot. NRA has gone on the record of saying that Obama is taking away your guns. As far as Eric Holder is concerned, you need to do your home work to find out who started gun shipping to Mexico, and was Holder responsible in stopping this are expanding it. Mexico criminals know where to find guns, and whom to shoot.

[realtimecoffee]

Hack over heart.

[realtimecoffee]

Yes I do. I think both men spoke correctly about this as they should have. This is not a political moment, it's a human one.

[stormerF69]

Only 27 have died in Chicago during the month of July,guess Obama has forgotten that?

[realtimecoffee]

Knee jerk = mindless

[realtimecoffee]

by Former_Marine_Sgt July 20, 2012 12:27 PM EDT on a day like this, you gotta keep up the negative attacks.

All you are doing is showing how empty and hate filled of a human being that you are.
----
Thank you Former_Marine_Sgt. We sholuld all take a moment of silence over an awful thing like this. Forget team sports for a moment and let your heart go out to the families.

[USSR--is---barack]

When is he and Eric Holder going to lead a moment of silence for the hundreds of people in Mexico that were murdered, and citizens here in the USA like the Border Agent they were responsible for sell ing illegal guns to the Mexican drug cartels in the heinous Gun Walking scandal?
He is such a phony and criminal president.

[realtimecoffee]

Want spot useless political hacks? Read the political comments on this story from both sides. Then condemn them. This is an American tragedy, not a political opportunity.

[USSR--is---barack]

It is a political opportunity for Obama and the left
Wise up and watch what he and the Democrats comes up with next concering guns and the NRA.
RINO Bloomberg from NYC is already spouting off.

[realtimecoffee]

I have no trouble with this. It's the kind of thing a President should do. Good for President Obama. Shame on those on both sides trying to score some sad political points on the back of tragedy. Screw your stupid politics. My heart goes out to the families.

[USSR--is---barack]

It's realy a phony display for political purposes.
Fast and Furious shows he could care less about human life.

[realtimecoffee]

Not the time. Not the place. Shame on you.

[jwindsDAD]

by theshark82 July 20, 2012 11:37 AM EDT
Seriously? You are waiting around for that? You really need a life.
++++++++++++++++
Says the far right trailer park boy who's entire life consist of taking care of his drunk momma.