President Barack Obama used a small part of his second inauguration speech Monday to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy.
"Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia, to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for and cherished and safe from harm," President Obama said.
Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal says the President's reference to the murders of 20 children and six educators in Newtown could spur changes in federal gun law.
Blumenthal told The Associated Press on Monday that the image and symbol of the Dec. 14 shooting deaths in the president's speech will be a "motivating force" to pass new laws.
Blumenthal, a Democrat, said Obama's reference to Newtown is valuable because he has given only two inaugural speeches and every sentence counts.
Connecticut U.S Sen. Chris Murphy agreed.
"I was particularly gratified that the President specifically acknowledged Newtown in his speech," Murphy said. "Mentioning this tragedy signals his personal commitment to ending gun violence and that gun control will be a top priority in the early days of his second term."
Obama is proposing a ban on military-style assault weapons, limiting high-capacity ammunition magazines and requiring background checks for all gun buyers.
