Mark Takano: “No words can express the pain and sadness I feel for all those affected by the horrific attack on a gay nightclub in…”

“No words can express the pain and sadness I feel for all those affected by the horrific attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando. On too many occasions, the LGBT community and our country have been forced to overcome moments of profound loss, but on each of these occasions, we have emerged stronger and more resilient. Once again, we will choose love over hate and compassion over intolerance. These are the themes of the LGBT Pride Month, and they cannot be lost in this overwhelming tragedy. This attack forces us to confront two unpleasant facts about our country: fact one, hateful rhetoric toward the LGBT people and other minority groups is still far too common; fact two, it is far too easy for dangerous people to access assault weapons. I hope we have the courage to confront these facts and build a safer and stronger America. This is what the victims and their families deserve. ____________________”