SCOTLAND: DUNBLANE: JOHN MAJOR & TONY BLAIR VISIT SITE OF MASSACRE

(15 Mar 1996) English/Nat
The British prime minister and opposition leader forgot their political differences and made a show of genuine unity as they visited the Scottish community devastated by Wednesday's massacre of 16 children and their teacher by a lone gunman.
John Major and Tony Blair visited the school in Dunblane where the killings took place and also the hospital in nearby Stirling where the survivors are being treated.
When Major entered the gym where the shooting happened, he said - with tears in his eyes - that money would be given to demolish the gym and build a new one.
Prime Minister John Major and Labour leader Tony Blair, united in their grief, arrived in Dunblane together Friday in a gesture of solidarity across the divisions of politics.
The two saluted the dedication of staff at Stirling Royal Infirmary who Major said had to deal with a "horror of almost unimaginable proportions".
They visited the injured and spoke to hospital staff in a tour which overran by around 30 minutes.
The mood in the ancient city has understandably been sombre.
For other schools it was a normal day - as normal as can possibly be given the tragic circumstances.
Outside Dunblane Primary School there were piles of wreaths.
A simple message summing up the incomprehension felt by the community and the world.
Major and Blair visited the school and the prime minister promised the gym where the massacre took place would be pulled down.
The two leaders also placed wreaths to join the thousands of others already placed outside the school.
Both men praised the people of Dunblane for their fortitude.
SOUNDBITE:
We've just had the opportunity over the last hour or so to meet with the headmaster and the staff and many of the other people connected with the school, to express our thanks to them in the way they have handled the appalling tragedy they have had to cope with over the last few days. I don't think it is possible to put into words precisely what they have had to deal with. And I think the way in which they have coped with all this has been quite remarkable in every respect.
SUPER CAPTION: John Major, British Prime Minister
SOUNDBITE:
This community has suffered so much and yet there is such strength in it. There is such tremendous strength in it. And we feel, we hope that in this small way by coming together here, we have shown our respect for them and our deep and profound sympathy.
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, Leader of the opposition Labour party
The 16 pupils and their teacher were killed by lone gunman Thomas Hamilton, who committed suicide.
Many Britons are asking how a man widely regarded as unstable and unsavoury was able to get licenses for the guns he owned.
Major pledged on Thursday that the country's strict firearms controls would be reviewed.
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[@Waddledee_fan15]

Why did this have to happen why? Why?

[@startracker5895]

Blair is so insincere. Pretending to hold back the tears. Don’t believe that monster gives a shit about those kids! He didn’t mind sending troops to an illegal war.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

Star tracker - utter crap. How the hell do you know what he thinks?

[@AndersenTrades]

@@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1 how the hell can you trust the man?

[@therealist4186]

@@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1 You're full of shit.

[@DarkEXE]

Iraq war took place 7 year after this.

[@sofiagill4744]

Then he shot chriena

[@sofiagill4744]

He shot teacher Frist

[@jimstewart2192]

Where was yer ambulance staff who actually saved the life's ya Corrupt gits

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

Jim Stewart- Actually because of the legislation the Major Government brought in there hasn't been a mass school shooting in Britain since Dunblane

[@turboapples1233]

That's not even Dunblane

[@kevin6293]

Lolwut

[@nicoleanderson3399]

Yes it is

[@MJLaura88]

This horrifying tragedy just happened to be the perfect boost that Westminster needed to push through certain Acts that were deemed important. Just a quick way to get us to relinquish more of our civil liberties. I'm sickened by it all

[@m_g_7907]

abhorrent comment

[@BRUTUALTRUTH]

+MJLaura88 Sick person you are

[@Hobbyblasphemist]

+MJLaura88 personally my favourite civil liberty is the liberty to go to school not having to worry that anyone could get their hands on a weapon designed to kill as efficiently as possible.

[@BRUTUALTRUTH]

+MJLaura88 fuck off

[@MJLaura88]

Perhaps my comment doesn't come across well over the internet. This was, and still is a horrifying tragedy. I was in no way meaning to demean or belittle that fact. I was merely commenting on the despicable way Westminster used the situation after the fact.

[@rambotravs]

Hoax of the 90s