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Investigators Piecing Together Evidence; Obama Grieves With Newtown; School Safety Changes Now In Place; New Push For Gun Control; Explaining What Happened; Gun Control Debate Heats Up; "Keep Them Safe And Keep Them Calm"

Aired December 17, 2012 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: -- this tragedy could have been, if you can believe it, a lot worse if not for the teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School. They are being called heroes this morning for their actions when the shootings began. You will hear from one of them. A special edition of NEWSROOM starts now.

Good morning. Thanks for being with us. I'm Carol Costello in Atlanta and with me today, Don Lemon in Newtown, Connecticut. Good morning, Don.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Carol. We are going to begin this hour with the very latest from Newtown, Connecticut. Just minutes ago police held a briefing to update reporters one topic wrestling with the question of when or even if kids can return to Sandy Hook Elementary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEORGE SINKO, NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT POLICE: There will be no school today. The plan is to try to resume normalcy for school classes tomorrow except for those members at the Sandy Hook School. They will be excused, of course, until further notice. They are developing plans on how to best handle that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, today the first of the funerals get under way. This afternoon, 6-year-olds, Jack Pinto and Noah Pozner, will be the first of the 27 victims laid to rest. We're also learning more about the remarkable acts of heroism.

One teacher, Anne Marie Murphy died while shielding students with her body. Another read to her kids to distract them from the gunshots exploding outside of their room.

And last night in Newtown, President Obama met with survivors and the families of those killed and he vowed to prevent another massacre and call for a national discussion on gun violence.

More on the gun control debate in just a moment, but first the president's message to a community in anguish. Here are some of the comments from last night's vigil.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow nor can they heal your wounded hearts. I can only hope it helps for you to know that you are not alone in your grief that our world, too, has been torn apart.

That all across this land of ours, we have wept with you. We pulled our children tight. And you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide. Whatever portion of sadness that we can share with you to ease this heavy load, we will gladly bear it. Newtown, you are not alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: We are going to be back here in Newtown in just a few minutes. But for now, I'm going to hand it back over to Carol who is in Atlanta. Carol, I watched it here in a tavern not a dry eye in the house. It was such a moving memorial last night.

COSTELLO: It really was. The president talked about doing something. He sort of intimated gun control was part of that something. How did you take that, Don?

LEMON: I think he had some very strong language on gun laws. I don't know if gun control is the right thing -- I think what the president is saying and most people are saying, it is not about taking away anyone's second amendment rights. It is about having a sensible, non- politicized conversation about our gun laws, taking a second look at them. I think that's appropriate at this point.

COSTELLO: OK, well, Don, after what happened in Newtown, schools are certainly struggling with gun control, guns in general and how to keep kids safe. One way armed school security guards.

According to the "Pittsburgh Gazette," at least would Pittsburgh area school districts will allow armed guards to patrol their schools. The superintendent, Michael Strutt, told the paper, quote, "It was our intent to do this anyway. The Newtown shooting caused us to think about it and work over the weekend to expedite that process."

Gun advocates are all for it. In fact, Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert wished the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown had been armed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LOUIS GOHMERT (R), TEXAS: I wish to God she had an M-4 in her office locked up so when she heard gunfire, she pulled it out and she didn't have to lung heroically with nothing in her hands but she takes him out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: He had mentioned an M-4. He wished the principal was armed with an M-R. If you are wondering what an M-4 is, here is a picture of it. It's an assault rifle used by the U.S. military. Joining us now is Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman. Good morning, Senator.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: I'm just going cut right to the chase. Is that the answer, Senator, more guns?

LIEBERMAN: I don't believe it is. Obviously, security at school buildings is important. But this -- as the president said, very eloquently last night is a very complicated problem. But the fact that it is complicated doesn't mean we can't do something about it.

And I thought the president issued a call to national action preceded by discussion when he said that it is time for these tragedies to end. I mean, clearly part of it has to be -- to make it harder to -- for people who shouldn't have guns to have them.

And to keep some guns that are military guns and not hunting or sports guns out of the hands of most people in our country, but it is more than that. It is about balance and the culture. It's about mental health services.

It is about spotting these kids who fit the profile, troubled young men, who everybody in hindsight says I should have noticed this. How we make sure we notice it before they strike and get them help so that -- so never strike and hurt anybody.

COSTELLO: Senator, I think a lot of people out will think, you know, these tragedies happen. We hear big talk from politicians, but they don't have the political will or courage to really change things.

LIEBERMAN: I don't blame people for thinking that because -- that's the record. You know, the last thing we really adopted a law on guns, for instance, was in 1993 or '94, the Brady Act named after Jim Brady, President Reagan's press secretary, who was disabled by gunfire when Hinckley tried to kill President Reagan.

That took seven years to pass. We had an assault weapons ban that passed at about that time, had a 10-year life as a statute and not a consensus to reauthorize it. That's why I think what the president said last night is so important because I think he was saying he wants -- he's committed to doing something about violence in our society in this second term.

It is why I'm proposing a commission to make -- once you appointed commission, they hold hearings. They talk to people. Eventually they produce a report with recommendations. That's some small guarantee we won't walk away from this.

COSTELLO: Senator, I think when people listen to that and say that's great, you want to point a commission and we will talk about these things. But oftentimes, nothing comes of it.

I want to ask you about the NRA because the NRA remained silent on this issue. We haven't heard word one. Facebook page is down. Why do you think that is? Why isn't the NRA coming out and standing up for itself when so many out there are blaming the NRA for what happened in Newtown, Connecticut?

LIEBERMAN: Yes. Well, I mean, obviously you would have to ask folks from the NRA. Let's just hope it is out of respect for this tragedy. But, you know, from the president on down, we all have to engage the NRA and people we know who have guns and want to keep their guns.

And remind them just as Don Lemon said a moment ago, none of these proposals will take guns out of the hands of people who have them now. This is all about trying to limit access to guns by people who shouldn't have them, based on their records and to keep military weapons off of the commercial market.

That shouldn't inhibit anybody's right to hunt, target shoot, or even to defend themselves with a gun. I think -- this murder of 20 pure, innocent children is a tipping point. I'm proposing this commission so we don't lose the anger and hurt we have now before we really get something done about this.

I don't want the commission to be an excuse for not doing something. If the president can do something now executive order, God bless him. If Congress can get together soon and get something done, God bless Congress, but --

COSTELLO: Even after Gabrielle Giffords, one of your own, who is still damaged to this day because somebody got a hold of a gun who shouldn't have, nothing happened even after that.

LIEBERMAN: You are absolutely right. I mean, I go back to Columbine in 1999. I actually proposed after that a commission very similar to this. John McCain and I and others did. Got adopted in the Senate and was dropped in a conference committee, never even convened.

But we have -- all got to be angry. This is not us and them. Us against the NRA or us against the entertainment industry, this is all of us. This is a question of how we all protect ourselves from wanton violence and most fundamentally how we protect our children.

Again, I want to say -- I was heartened by the president's words last night. They were strong and he was moved. I happened to be at a bill signing at the White House Friday morning when he first learned about how extensive the slaughter was in Newtown.

He was so visibly moved. I think he's -- he's struggled with this over the weekend. I think this is going to be a centerpiece of his second term. When you think about it, 12,000 people killed in this country every year with illegal guns, wow.

If we can do something about that to reduce that number, that will be a tremendous legacy for President Obama and anybody who supports these efforts.

COSTELLO: Senator Lieberman, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

LIEBERMAN: Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: How do we talk about this tragedy? Don Lemon will join us again from Newtown, Connecticut. Hi, Don.

LEMON: All right, thank you, Carol. You know, one of the most difficult things moving forward in this tragedy is how to explain what happened to children. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us.

I know you are a father. I'm an uncle, great uncle. I can't even -- I have been on the verge of tears almost every minute here. As a father, I heard you explaining how you talked to your girls about this because they are asking. How do you explain this to your kids?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I was Skyping. I was here with you. You know, and -- you know, one of the first questions, just inside my 7 year old asked, she immediately asked for the names, names of these children.

I thought that was interesting because we talk about humanizing and kids, they just do that instinctively. We obviously are trying to put these things in context for people. These are tough conversations to have.

I mean, you know, people talk about the loss of innocence. I think first of all you have to be honest. I think you have to, in medicine, we say you check your own pulse before going in to treat a patient sometimes. Here I think you need to check your own feelings to some extent.

You don't want to over talk to the child. You don't want to frighten them more than necessary, but you want to be honest. The question is going to come up. I know my 5-year-old will ask today because they are going to hear about it.

Social media ask otherwise and say is their school safe. I think, you know, you have -- it didn't happen in daddy's school, it didn't happen in mommy's school. This obviously happened, but we're doing all we can.

LEMON: Is your wife limiting watching television at home?

GUPTA: She is limiting their watching of television. You know, the types of stories that I cover she does that often. I think this one in particular.

LEMON: I think what people -- you know, what -- obviously the death of children, but it is a time of the year as well. These are kids who in a week who believe in Santa Claus, who are going to be -- bolting down the stairs towards that Christmas tree going look at what Santa brought me.

Now instead the parents are not going -- did I get my kid the right present? Did I go too far, too much? Did I not go enough? Instead these parents are picking out coffins. That's what I thought about this morning when I woke up.

Brothers and sisters are not figuring out what am I going to get little Emilie, little Jane. They are figuring out how am I going to go to this funeral for my sister and brother?

GUPTA: I don't even know what to say, Don. You are absolutely right. You know, I think -- you know, I don't even know how to respond to that. I think -- some of these things are unprecedented and so horrific that certainly as scientists we want to provide answers to things and -- you know, look at how these sorts of things have been handled in the past.

I know after other school shootings, three to four months later, three quarters of children had some components of post-traumatic stress. The children obviously who are most exposed to the violence are at most risks. It exists in children. We think about it in adults.

It can be -- they behave differently and may regress in terms of behavior, nieces or nephews may start to regress in terms of development. Sleep -- it sounds so simple, but sleep is such an important component. You can predict -- such a powerful predictor of how they will cope is if they are getting sleep.

If there's one thing I think the parents can do over the next few days is just check in to make sure your child is sleeping well with all that's going on. Yes. I mean, I don't -- I don't know -- it is the holidays, as you say. I'm sure some of the parents already purchased the presents for these children.

And they went home to see those presents lying under the tree. I can't -- you know, I mean, look -- it is -- I don't know what to say. I don't know what to say about that. You hug your kids tighter, I guess.

LEMON: And everyone. Everyone you care about. Everyone you may have a beef with that you still -- you tell them, I love you, I care about you and I'm glad you are in my life.

GUPTA: This was happening to you yesterday. It was happening to me. Just walking around this town, people were coming up to me. They see a little bit on TV and feel like they know you and just give you a hug. I think the idea that people -- you know, feel like -- look, we are going through this together.

The worst thing would be to suffer in silence or isolation. I don't know what to say, but I'm here with you. You know, as -- it is a really important thing. Here's what's going on in the crisis centers, by the way, as well.

LEMON: People need it. Every hug yesterday I accepted and embraced longer. Thank you, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Glad you are here. We will move on in this tragedy. How do you move forward in Newtown and elsewhere? We are going to hear from one of the hero teachers who saved lives in the chaos. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We have been before, mass shooting followed by calls for better gun control, but nothing much seems to happen. But could Newtown be the tipping point? (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: I'm going to introduce in the Senate and the same bill will be introduced in the House, a bill to ban assault weapons. It will ban the sale, transfer, the importation and the possession, not retroactively, but perspectively. And it will ban the same for big clips, drums or strips, of more than 10 bullets. So there will be a bill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Yes, there might a bill introduced, but does not mean that bill will pass. Let's bring in our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash. I just talked to Senator Lieberman. He says this is the tipping point. In the coming weeks we will see some movement on gun control. What are you hearing?

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, the sentiment definitely seems to be different. I mean, over the -- here's the reason why we haven't seen movement on gun control, significant movement on gun control, for the past decade or so.

It is because Democrats who have been the party who have pushed it million about 2000, they shied away from it. The reason is because they really felt that they were hurt politically in red states and even in not so red states by the being so overtly for gun control. And so they pulled back politically.

It has changed in the past 24 to 48 hours. There's no question. More Democrats, not just Dianne Feinstein who is a senator who has been in office for decades from a blue state, it is also others like Joe Manchin.

He has an A-rating, Carol, from the NRA. He is very much pro-gun. He used himself, shooting guns, and in political ads, West Virginia, obviously is a very pro-gun state. Even he says it is time to talk about it. Listen to what he says.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D), WEST VIRGINIA: I just came with my family from deer hunting. I never had more than three shells in a clip. Sometimes you don't get more than one shot anyway at a deer. It is common sense.

It is time to move beyond rhetoric. We need to sit down and have a common sense discussion and move in a reasonable way. I ask all my friends in the NRA. I have been an NRA member and always have been.

We need to sit down and move this dialogue to a sensible, reasonable approach to fixing. It is part of it, not all of it everything has to be on the table and I think it will be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Carol, he didn't explicitly say he would vote for or support Senator Feinstein's bill that she is going to introduce on day one of the new Congress, which would ban assault weapons.

Of course, the assault weapons ban expired back in 2004. Nobody did anything to reinstate it. But he did say that as a hunter, he said, you don't need 30 rounds to kill a deer. That's something that we might hear from more and more -- even Democrats who previously had been against my gun control.

COSTELLO: All right, we will see what happens. You don't need armor- piercing bullets to kill a deer either. Dana Bash reporting live from Capitol Hill this morning. Let's head back to Newtown. Hi, Don.

LEMON: Hi, Carol. Families are calling the teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School heroes for protecting their children from a gunman's assault.

CNN's Anderson Cooper spoke to one of those teachers. Her name is Janet Vollmer about what it was like inside of her classroom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, CNN'S "AC 360": Explain again, you knew something was going wrong. How?

JANET VOLLMER, SANDY HOOK TEACHER: Well, I mean, we were in our classroom and we heard what sounded like gunshots, noises.

COOPER: Do you heard that on --

VOLLMER: There was a loudspeaker that --

COOPER: The P.A. system.

VOLLMER: The P.A. system was not working in the way it normally is because you don't usually hear things unless someone is making an announcement. So there were noises that didn't sound correct. So there was no -- anyone telling us that it was a drill.

We just thought something was not right. So we took the children and we went into what we call a lockdown. We go to a certain place in the room. We pulled the blinds down. We locked the classroom doors and we cover the window at the door.

COOPER: So this is something you had practiced.

VOLLMER: About a month or so before. Make sure that we do that, you know, we -- go to a safe place. And typically when it is a drill they tell us, OK, then we even exit the building, following certain path. And if there was an emergency we go down to the Sandy Hook firehouse and gather there, which is what we did that day. So you know, we knew that --

COOPER: But you sat the kids down.

VOLLMER: We sat in the cubby area away from the door so no one could see us, read them a story and talked to them. You know, they kept saying how come we are here for so long. I said, well, it will be a little longer. You know, when they are 5 you tell them whatever you do to get -- keep them safe and keep them calm.

COOPER: This is what I have been thinking about all weekend, though. I mean, the courage for you to be able to just sit there and read a story and keep them calm.

VOLLMER: I think the adrenaline kicks in and you do what you have do. I mean, there were two other people in the room that were helping me with pulling down the blinds. I was focused on the kids and just keeping them safe and I'm not about to tell them I think something is very bad or very wrong.

So we waited and waited. You know, it seemed like a very long time and maybe it was 20 minutes, half an hour. I'm not sure. There were knocks at the door. It was -- police. Someone telling us that we had to leave. Didn't want to open the door at first, but we did.

You know, they said have the children walk, hold hands, cover their eye it is they could because, you know, he didn't say why. He said have them cover their eyes. At 5, covering your eyes and walking isn't so easy.

I just -- had them, you know, look towards the wall and we went down the hall and out of the building. And, you know, we got on the sidewalk and I said boys and girls, remember the adventure we had, we all walked to the firehouse, you know, we are going to do that now again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: In responding to people calling her a hero, Vollmer said she did what she need to do to keep the children safe. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning, what can be done to prevent another Newtown? That is a tough question because it requires thoughtful discussion, something that seems impossible when it comes to gun violence.

As the president says, what choice do we have? The blame game has already begun. Mike Huckabee, pastor and Fox News host, says our godless schools are to blame.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FMR. GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE (R), ARKANSAS: We ask why there is violence in our schools, but we systematically removed God from our schools. Should we be so surprised schools would become a place of carnage because we have made it a place where we don't want to talk about eternity, life, what responsibility means.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN contributor and Tea Party supporter, Erick Ericson says in his column today, single parent homes lead to violence. Many are also blaming violent individual yes games and movies. After all, 11, 11 violent movies are now in theatres just one week before Christmas, the day we celebrate Christ's birth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Simply a customer trying to conduct a transaction.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last chance, fancy pants.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Including that one, Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUENTIN TARANTINO, DIRECTOR: It's a horrible tragedy, you know. What are you going to say about it? It is horrible. But, you know, at the same time, no, I don't think it has anything to do with that. But this is going back to Shakespeare's days. All right, when there's violence in the street. I think that's a very facile argument.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Republican lawmaker Louie Gohmert blames too few guns say if the principal had a gun she could have taken out the shooter and prevented the rampage. Maybe there are too many guns.

Senator Dianne Feinstein plans to introduce legislation banning assault weapons. But will that or anything else stop the carnage? Talk back question for you today. What can be done to prevent another Newtown? Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Your responses, later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)