Bush, Virginia Tech and the Freedom to Bear Arms

Musings:

Playing catch-up on the news here but did anyone else but me (and an Australian newspaper) notice that President Bush's first comment on the shooting at Virginia Tech included this statement, "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed. Certainly, bringing a gun into a school dormitory and shooting ... is against the law and something someone should be held accountable for."

Why was this necessary? Has it gotten to the point where the NRA has such dominance that Republicans are unable to offer sincere condolences to the victims of a tragedy without pandering to this interest group?

Why wasn't there more fallout from this statement? Has everything the President says been rendered that irrelevant.