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WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement in response to Sunday morning’s shooting in Orlando, marking the worst mass shooting in American history.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by what is now the deadliest mass shooting in American history. However, moments of silence and offering condolences are not enough. Action is needed.

We must decide if this is our 'new normal,' where these tragedies happen with increased regularity and increased magnitude. I'm not ready to live in a world like that.

This was an act of terror, plain and simple. Whether it is an attack inspired by ISIS, a coordinated assault, or something completely unrelated – it is terrorism. And we must work together to destroy those that threaten our basic, inalienable right to live in safety. In so doing, we must be mindful not to further divide people by using reckless language.

My heart is with the LGBT community in Orlando, in the Capital Region, and across the nation. When these acts of violence, hate and terrorism affects any one of us, they affect us all,” said Tonko.

Tonko has supported several pieces of commonsense gun safety legislation, including closing the ‘Terrorist Gun Loophole’ which allows suspected terrorists to legally buy guns in the United States. The current loophole has allowed more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI Terrorist Watch List to buy guns in the United States over the last 11 years.  In that time, more than 90 percent of all suspected terrorists who tried to buy guns walked away with the weapon that they wanted. 

Since January 2015, House Republicans have voted 11 times against closing the terrorist gun loophole.

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