US President Barack Obama on Friday said the United States needs to take "meaningful action," regardless of politics, to prevent more tragedies, following a deadly shooting spree in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, which took place earlier in the day, noting the country has seen too many shootings throughout the years.

"We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics," said Obama.

In an emotional statement at the White House briefing room, Obama repeatedly wiped away tears as he spoke, saying the nation was "heartbroken" over the deaths of so many innocent children.

"The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of five and ten years old," said Obama. "They had their entire lives ahead of them, birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own."

"We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years," said Obama. "Each time I learn the news I react not as a president, but as anybody else would -- as a parent."

Promising he will do everything in his power to help those affected by the shooting, the president went on to mention several other recent deadly shootings, including the ones taking place at a shopping mall in Oregon, at a temple in Wisconsin, and a movie theater in Colorado, as he struggled to maintain his composure during the news briefing.