Early Sunday morning’s Orlando nightclub shooting left at least 50 people dead. The incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The amount of bloodshed was enormous, and the damage could have been even worse, had authorities not killed the gunman, Omar Mateen, and used controlled detonation to disarm an explosive device.
Later on Sunday, President Obama took the podium to address the nation. This marks the 16th occasion he’s done so in the wake of a mass shooting. Although several months have passed since the San Bernardino attack, Obama’s tone is no less weary in the face of these repeated tragedies. Our nation is on repeat, and still, the gun control battle continues. Obama wasted no time in labeling the club shooting as a terrorist attack fueled by hate:
“We know enough to say this was an act of terror and an act of hate. The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act of terror. We will go wherever the facts lead us. What is clear is he was a person filled with hatred. And as Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and resolve to defend our people … This is an especially heartbreaking day for our friends who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”
Beyond Obama’s words, it’s important to note that the shootings that lead to his addresses are only those that make national headlines. Nearly every day, a mass shooting occurs in America. His speech can be seen below.