Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-San Bernardino) issued the following statement in response to the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida that killed at least 50 people and injured 53, making it the deadliest mass shooting in United States history:

“We watched in horror as moviegoers were slaughtered in their seats. We wept when we learned that first graders were killed in their classrooms. We bowed our heads when we heard that church attendees were murdered in their place of worship. And we were left to feel helpless and broken when coworkers were massacred as they gathered for a holiday party. And the list goes on. As we reel from the catastrophic events in Orlando that targeted the LGBT community, we cannot move on or heal our communities by remaining complacent with the status quo.

Guns – guns designed to kill efficiently and quickly – have no place on our streets. Americans should feel safe in their communities and be able to live without fear that terrorists could strike their neighborhoods at any moment because guns are too accessible to those who want to kill. The LGBT community has been forced to endure decades of violence and death, and for this heinous act to happen during a time when we celebrate their achievements and progress is utterly tragic. We can and we must do better – for Orlando, for San Bernardino and for us all.”

Representative Pete Aguilar represents California’s 31^st Congressional District, which includes the City of San Bernardino.