Local News
Orlando reaction: Anger, somber reflection
As Orlando, Florida and the nation begins to absorb the violence that happened overnight at a nightclub there, reactions from those stunned by the massacre range from outrage to solidarity.
Police say Omar Mateen used an assault rifle and a pistol to kill more than 50 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando at around 2 Sunday morning.
President Obama, in a national address on Sunday afternoon called the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the nation, “an act of terror and an act of hate.” He also noted, ‘this could have been any one of our communities” and said the shooting was, “an attack on all of us.”
Obama also used the address to note the ease with which weapons like the ones used in the shooting could be easily acquired in the U.S. He said, “We have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be.”
Mateen had apparently been under FBI surveillance, was pro-ISIS and a had a deep animosity towards homosexuals. The Pulse is a gay nightclub in Orlando.
Presumptive democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton agreed that the shooting was “was an act of terror.”
Rep. Donald Trump said he was praying for victims and families but, later tweeted, “appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism.”
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ron Johnson echoed the sentiment that their “thoughts and prayers” are with the victims and families while Sen. Tammy Baldwin said, “This was not only a horrific attack on the LGBT community, it was an attack on the freedoms we all hold dear.”
Baldwin also advocated for a stand against, “hate, gun violence and terrorism.”
Mateen was killed after police stormed the building. He apparently had called 911 around the time of the shooting and pledged his allegiance to ISIS.
The Orlando shooting was also deadliest terror attack in the U.S. since 9/11.
