Illinois and Chicago area leaders had strong reactions to the mass school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut Friday morning.

Speaking at an unrelated event Friday afternoon, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed his outrage and concern for the victims.

“I think it’s incumbent upon all of us to remember those children, to remember their families, to remember their community in this time of loss,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I think we all have to take, not just this moment, but rededicate ourselves to our children, their protection and their ability to go to school and it be at a place of learnin,g regardless of where you live.”

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn ordered flags flown at half-staff across the state to remember the victims of the shootings in Connecticut.

The governor also said he intends to push for “strict laws that will protect the children of illinois from gun violence.”

On Friday afternoon, local parents had many more questions than answers.

“I can’t understand what’s going on with people, reaction…they’re huring more than themselves,”  said Tyrone Overton

“I don’t know what’s going on with these kids these days,” said Gary Gurino.

“It just seems like it’s getting worse and worse,” said Holly Barrera. “The morals and everything are just not there,”

“When are we gonna stop it? When are we gonna draw the line and say this proliferation of guns, and this sense of violence has become a norm of American culture?” said Fr. Michael Pfleger, one of Chicago’s most influential advocates for gun control.

Pfleger says he is outraged by todays shooting in Connecticut, and equally outraged that the city of Chicago is closing in on 500 murders for 2012.

“We’ve gotta deal with the gun issue. Assault weapons should be banned. Easy access to guns, those loopholes have to be closed,” Pfleger said.