PAWTUCKET - U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement:

“My heart is broken for the people who were killed earlier today at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Their loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers. The hatred that drove their murderer to attack them in their house of worship is too common in our country. All of us have a responsibility to denounce anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. We cannot allow these twisted ideologies of hate to flourish.”

“We should also recognize that, once again, folks expressing their faith in a house of worship were gunned down in cold blood. I’m not sure what it’s going to take before all leaders of our country work together to end this epidemic of gun violence. We are the only advanced democracy that kills each other with guns this often. The only way to end this crisis is with commonsense laws that prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals, children, and individuals with serious mental illness.”