Trump calls Las Vegas shooting ‘an act of pure evil’

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump expressed somber condolences to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting Monday, urging the country to unite amid the tragedy. “It was an act of pure evil,” the president said. “In moments of tragedy and harm, America comes together as one, and it always has.” Trump praised local law enforcement for acting quickly to save lives during the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. He also referenced Psalm 34:18 in his remarks: “Scripture teaches us the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. We seek comfort in those words, for we know that God lives in the hearts of those who grieve.” The president announced he will visit Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with first responders and the families affected by the attack, which left at least 58 dead and more than 500 wounded. Before Trump’s remarks, congressional Democrats began politicizing the tragedy by urging their colleagues to rally around gun control legislation. “This must stop,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in a statement Monday morning. “It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren’t public policy responses to this epidemic.” In June 2016, Murphy led a filibuster on the Senate floor to protest legislative inaction following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla.—which held the title of worst American mass shooting until Sunday night’s incident. Stephen Paddock, the suspected Las Vegas shooter, had at least 10 rifles in his hotel room, from which he opened fire on people at an outdoor concert. Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff to remember the victims of the attack.