/EINPresswire.com/ -- WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - June 12, 2016) - The following statement was issued today by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake regarding the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida:

"America's mayors stand with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and all in Orlando on this very sad day. The Orlando community is strong, has already demonstrated its unity in responding to this tragedy, and will get through this difficult time. The victims, their families, and all of the people in Orlando are in our thoughts and prayers.

"We praise the local Orlando police officers as we recognize and have reported to the nation that it is the local city police departments that continue to be the first to respond to the national terrorist threats that exist in our cities.

"There is so much that is deeply troubling about this, the nation's most recent mass shooting: The number of dead and wounded is incomprehensible and record-setting. It's location suggests that the LBGT community was targeted. It is being investigated as a possible terror attack.

"When The U.S. Conference of Mayors meets in Indianapolis in less than two weeks, we will know more about the shooter's motivations and will be able to discuss what mayors can do in our cities and our nation to reduce acts of hate and terror, and the unacceptable level of gun violence."

About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

Contact:
Elena Temple
202-286-1100
etemple@usmayors.org

Sara Durr
202-215-1811
sara@durrcommunications.com