Canberra
PM: Today we stand by the people of America on their day of loss and grief.
Today is a truly shocking day for Americans.
Twenty children have died; a number of adults have died.
This is a day that is breaking America's heart and has brought the American President to tears.
As Prime Minister I get to visit a lot of primary schools, and they're places of hope and joy and excitement, young kids going about their day, learning, being with their mates.
It is almost beyond comprehension such a happy place could be reduced to a place of death and terror, but that is what we have seen today.
Our heartfelt sympathies go to those families who have lost a child, to those families who have lost a loved one, to those families who are now trying to counsel their young child who has been witness to such shocking scenes and will be so distressed as a result.
Alongside the loss of children, we've seen the loss of some very brave teachers.
It's a time to remind ourselves just how precious a thing it is that so many people devote their lives to the care of children and even in the most extreme circumstances think about the children in their care first.
They are some very brave Americans, and we know we are home too to some very great teachers.
This is a very difficult day. It's a day on which Australians will be thinking of our friends in America and sharing their grief and their sense of loss.
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