President Obama today called for prayers for those killed and wounded in Connecticut -- and "action" in resolving the spate of gun violence that has plagued the U.S.

The words -- in a shorter-than-usual weekly adddress -- were close to the remarks he delivered Friday afternoon at the White House, struggling not to cry as he talked about the deaths of the children.

"Most of those who died were just young children with their whole lives ahead of them," he said in the radio address. "And every parent in America has a heart heavy with hurt. Among the fallen were also teachers – men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams"

And he noted the U.S. has "endured far too many of these tragedies in the last few years," noting shootings in Oregon, Wisconsin and Colorado, along with "countless street corners in places like Chicago and Philadelphia."

"Any of these neighborhoods could be our own," he said. "So we have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this. Regardless of the politics."

There was to be no Republican response. House Speaker John Boehner said Friday he scrapped the routine counter speech "so that President Obama can speak for the entire nation at this time of mourning."