Sympathy for victims pours in following Chattanooga shootings

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Chattanoogans gather at prayer vigil after recruiting center shootings

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President Barack Obama speaks to members of the media in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Thursday, July 16, 2015, on the shooting in Chattanooga. Obama is promising a thorough and prompt investigation into an attack at two military sites that killed at least four Marines. The president is calling the shooting a "heartbreaking circumstance."

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House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick

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Rep. Chuck Fleischmann speaks at the Times Free Press in this file photo.

Washington, DC - Following today's shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee which left four U.S. Marines dead, Violence Policy Center (VPC) Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement: "Another day in America, another mass shooting. While we are still learning the facts behind this latest mass murder, easy access to increasingly lethal firearms is the one factor that is almost constant in these attacks. Lives are lost, families are devastated, and communities are scarred, yet all too often we look for answers while ignoring the very tools that are commonly used to perpetrate these heinous acts. Until this changes, such horrific events are inevitable.

Terrible tragedy. Time for us to pull together

Rep. Joanne Favors, D-Chattanooga

(Federal officials) pointed out the incredible braveryof the sheriff's office and the Chattanooga police and the efficiency.Everybody responded to perfection. It's so important that the governor be engaged.

State Sen. Bo Watson is interviewed by editors during a meeting at the Times Free Press.

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Mayor Andy Berke delivers his second State of the City address at The Chattanoogan hotel in this file photo.

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Erlanger Hospital is seen from the UTC library's balcony in this Dec. 9, 2014, file photo.

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U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, right, and his wife Julie.

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House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee member Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, asks questions in this file photo.

Today my thoughts are with the military and law enforcement officials shot today in my home city of Chattanooga. This horrific shooting should be a call to action to strengthen our gun laws. There are common sense measures we can take that would prevent gun violence while respecting the Second Amendment.

Ron Littlefield, former Chattanooga Mayor

We are tremendously saddened by today's shooting in our home town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our hearts are with the families of the brave Marines who died today and with the police officer and two bystanders who were shot and injured in this cowardly act. We condemn this act in the strongest possible terms as one of cowardice and hate. At the Islamic Center of Greater Chattanooga, we don't see our community center as a "Muslim" community; we are Chattanoogans first, and we see ourselves as part of the larger community of Tennesseans grieving today's act.

Bassam Issa

My heart goes out to everyone affected by today's shooting in Chattanooga. We are reminded all too often that gun violence can strike at any time. It's heartbreaking that those who put their lives on the line in the military and in law enforcement have yet again been caught in the line of fire right here at home. We can and we must do more to reduce gun violence by keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people who should not have them.

Tennessee and Chattanooga responded like I thought they would, with an outpouring of love and support.

Associated Press file photoRepublican Gov. Bill Haslam speaks on April 23 at the state Capitol in Nashville.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and colleagues of those injured in the shooting today. While we don't know all the details yet, it is once again clear the damage that can be done when a dangerous person gets hold of a gun. Tennesseans must stand up and demand more from elected leaders to prevent the gun violence that kills 88 Americans and injures hundreds more every single day.

The tragedy in Chattanooga is both devastating and senseless.