The Orlando mass shooting that left 50 dead is the 15th mass shooting that has happened since President Obama took office.
Although his remarks to reporters called primarily for solidarity with victims and survivors, he didn't shy away from questioning the ease of access to assault weapons in the U.S.
“Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history. The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a high-powered assault rifle,” Obama said. “This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, in a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be. And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.”
The FBI is investigating whether the shooter had ties to ISIS. On the scene, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said that the Islamic State's news agency has taken credit for the massacre, though it's unclear whether that's actually the case.
But Obama said the nature of the attack was clear.
“Although it's still early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate," Obama said. "And as Americans we are united in grief and in outrage and in resolve to defend our people.”
He added that he had spoken with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to offer his help and condolences.
"As a comfort, we will be with the people of Orlando today, tomorrow and for the days to come," he said. "We also express our profound gratitude to police and first responders who rushed to harm's way. Their courage and professionalism saved lives and kept the carnage from being even worse."
He acknowledged that Pulse was much more than a nightclub — that it was supposed to be a place where members of the LGBT community could go for a sense of community.
"This is an especially heartbreaking day for all of our friends, our fellow Americans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," he said. "The shooter targeted a nightclub where people came together to be with friends, to dance and to sing and to live. The place where they were attacked is more than a nightclub, it is a place of solidarity and empowerment where people have come together to raise awareness and to speak their minds and to advocate for their civil rights."
Presumed Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton issued a statement acknowledging the nation's collective grief, especially within the LGBT community, as well as the ease of access to "weapons of war."
“This was also an act of hate. The gunman attacked an LGBT nightclub during Pride Month. To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them. We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America," her statement reads. “[W]e need to keep guns like the ones used last night out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals. This is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States and it reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets...This is a time to stand together and resolve to do everything we can to defend our communities and country.”
Democratic politicians aren't the only ones to call on the country to rethink its relationship to guns in the wake of the latest mass shooting.
Pamela Goodman, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, issued a statement Sunday morning calling for urgent action on guns:
"The time for action is NOW," she wrote in an emailed statement. "Guns kill people. That is a fact. Florida must be a leader NOW for necessary gun legislation.Call your Florida Representative and State Senator. We must have expanded background checks and extensive REQUIRED safety training for all permit holders.This is a Public Safety issue. We must all be responsible and take action for the safety of our citizens."
The Service Employees International Union also issued a statement on the event that noted that June is Pride Month, a time to commemorate the LGBT community's long and ongoing fight for equality.
"The LGBTQ rights movement was born out of the Stonewall Inn, a gay nightclub in New York City. Gay clubs like Pulse have a long history within our community as sacred spaces of self-expression. This horrific act of senseless violence strikes directly at our sense of safety," Tobias Packer, head of the 1199 SEIU LGBTQ Caucus and a member of the TransAction board.
In light of that, he said, it is time to reconsider the ease of access to guns.
"On the heels of yet another mass shooting, we have to ask ourselves hard questions as a country about our easy access to assault weapons. How many more tragedies like this do we have to go through, where people are being killed at schools, at movie theaters and now at an iconic club where hundreds were gathered simply to enjoy their Saturday night?" he said. “There are many more fights ahead, both to protect our communities from gun violence and our LGBTQ friends and loved ones from hatred and discrimination. But today, we are in mourning. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
