In a national address after the murder of 17 students and teachers at a Florida school, President Trump avoided any mention of guns or gun control, which is an astonishing omission given the circumstances.
It was perhaps a recognition that upholding the right to bear arms comes at a serious cost, in this case the lives of young people who should have been safe in school.
It is a cost that many people are questioning in the United States where there have been almost 300 school shootings since 2013, which is absolutely staggering.
In this latest incident, the suspected killer has been named as Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former pupil at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Cruz, who has appeared in court charged with 17 counts of murder, was described as an 'outcast' who was 'crazy about guns.'
He was said to have had behavioural problems and was expelled from school
The FBI investigated a 2017 YouTube comment posted by the screen name Nikolas Cruz that said: ''I'm going to be a professional school shooter.''
A white nationalist militia group also said he was a member and took part in exercises with the organisation, which is a further sinister aspect to this wholly disturbing case.
Yet this troubled teenager, whose behaviour had already raised a number of red flags, was able to go into a gun shop and buy a powerful assault rifle, the AR-15, which is the most commonly used weapon in US mass shootings.
It seems incomprehensible that restrictions are not in place to stop these military-type rifles being sold over the counter with virtually no checks.
In his address in the aftermath of the Florida shooting, Donald Trump spoke about tackling the 'difficult issue of mental health.'
However, it has been noted that last year the president signed a law that made it easier for people with mental health issues to buy guns.
The question is often asked, just how many more children have to die in school shootings before the American government takes action on the sale of deadly weapons?
This is an issue that goes well beyond the borders of the United States.
It has emerged that one of the victims of the Florida massacre was 14-year-old Cara Loughran, whose grandparents live in Toomebridge, Co Antrim.
This is shocking and devastating news for this family and the thoughts of the wider community will be with them at this terrible time.
Meanwhile, pressure will grow on Mr Trump to show he is listening to bereaved parents by standing up to the gun lobby.
