BRADY CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTING IN AMERICAN HISTORY

Washington D.C., June 12, 2016 — Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement on the Orlando nightclub shooting. Casualty assessments from law enforcement mark this as the most deadly mass shooting in U.S. history. "Our hearts are with the victims and survivors of this morning’s shooting in Orlando – an act of terror now being reported as the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. We stand in solidarity with the families and friends of all those who were killed or injured, and our thanks go to the dedicated first responders who rushed to the scene. Today Americans are coming together to say enough to hate and violence, and to show our support for the people of Orlando and for our LGBT brothers and sisters. As communities across the country celebrate LGBT Pride Month, we are reminded that every life is precious.

"The bottom line is that in this country, it is far too easy for those who hate and are intent on doing harm – including terrorists – to access guns. We owe it to the people of Orlando – and to all of the 90 Americans killed each day by guns – to do everything in our power to prevent this kind of violence.

"This terrible tragedy comes on the heels of the shooting death of Christina Grimmie, a contestant on NBC's The Voice, who was killed while signing autographs after an Orlando concert on Friday. While the details and motives behind both shootings are still being investigated, it will be important to find out how these shooters got their weapons and what Florida lawmakers and Congress should be doing to keep guns out of dangerous hands.

"Make no mistake: Florida’s approach to gun laws does nothing to prevent these types of tragedies – in fact, quite the opposite – and makes it all too easy for people intent on doing harm, from terrorists to domestic abusers to violent felons, to get guns."