WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement in response to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, which has left more than 50 people dead and 500 wounded:

“I am heartbroken by the terror in Las Vegas. With the entire country, I am grieving for the senseless loss of life and praying for the victims, their families, and all those who were injured, whether by gunshot or the chaos that ensued. Much thanks also goes to the first responders who saved countless lives by helping those around them and running toward danger instead of away. 

“Thoughts and prayers console victims and their families, but actions speak much louder. We must all be outraged at this latest shooting and we must act. Congress must act. States must act. Weapons of war should not be in the hands of civilians. We see the deadly results in Las Vegas just as we saw it in Orlando and Blacksburg, San Bernardino, Aurora, Sandy Hook, the streets of Baltimore, and elsewhere across this great country. We need to do everything in our power to stop the carnage of these shootings.

“How high does the death toll have to get before we enact real bipartisan reforms that will make the American public safer and reduce the risks that come from allowing such easy access to dangerous weapons primarily designed for the battlefield? Assault weapons are not needed to hunt deer or ducks; they are only meant to kill people – and they do far too often in this country. I urge my colleagues to be bold and fight to break the cycle of what can only be described as a callous disregard for the victims of gun violence. More talk and more prayers will not save lives. Only action and real changes in our federal and state laws can.”

###