Lawmakers must put aside their political differences in the wake of the Orlando massacre and join forces to stop gun violence and defeat the Islamic State (ISIS), presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Monday.
"I want to echo something that I heard my friend and former colleague [Rep.] Peter King of New York] was saying … This is a moment for Republicans, Democrats and Independents to work together as one team. The American team,"
Clinton said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program.
"It's a time for statesmanship, not partisanship. I think that our fellow American citizens expect that."
Her remarks came in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub early Sunday in which a gunman with an allegiance to ISIS opened fire with an assault-type rifle, killing 49 and wounding 53.
Clinton said opposing politicians have joined together in the past when the United States was under siege.
"I remember we all came together as one nation after 9/11 and we should recapture that spirit. You know, let's have a very clear, rational discussion about what we do right and what we can improve on," she said.
"And how we're going to protect Americans both from the threats of terrorism and ISIS, how we're going to defeat ISIS and how we're going to try to save people's lives from the epidemic of gun violence now that we're seeing terrorist use these assault weapons. That has to be part of the debate."
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