WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday released a statement following the mass shooting that took place overnight at a nightclub in Thousand Oaks, California.

“My heart breaks for the victims and their families, and for the survivors of this trauma. I know firsthand how radiating waves of grief caused by tragedies can forever change the community. They need our love and support, not just today but for months and years,” said Murphy.

“These twelve people were murdered last night for one reason – nothing stopped a homicidal madman from getting his hands on a gun with a high-capacity magazine. We’re still learning what happened and how, but let’s put to rest the gun lobby propaganda that flooding this country with more and more guns will mean fewer mass murders. There was security, there was a good guy with a gun, and they did everything they could but they could not stop this horror,” Murphy added.

“I beg my colleagues – if you are serious about making communities safer and protecting police officers, help us strengthen background checks and close loopholes that we know will save lives,” Murphy concluded.

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