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Orlando shooting: Barack Obama meets victims and pleads for unity

  • America is in mourning after the worst mass shooting in its history
  • Omar Mateen's attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando left 49 people dead
  • So-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack
  • President Obama says there is no clear evidence the gunman was directed by IS
  • Witnesses have claimed that Mateen was a regular visitor to the club he attacked
  • His wife said she tried to talk him out of conducting any kind of attack
  • His father has blamed security at the club for the attack
  • One gun shop refused to sell him ammunition as he was acting suspiciously

Follow the latest updates on ITV News.

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NRA: FBI should delay gun sales to terror suspects

Omar Mateen was placed on a terror watchlist - but that wouldn't have stopped him buying guns Credit: Reuters

The National Rifle Association has said that new laws should be brought in to prevent people on terror watchlists being able to buy guns over the counter.

The pro-gun lobby made a statement after it emerged that Orlando killer Omar Mateen had twice been investigated by the FBI for possible terror connections - but that fact would not have prevented him from buying deadly weapons.

The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period.

Anyone on a terror watchlist who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing.

– NRA statement

The NRA said that extra protections should also be put in place "that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed".

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Orlando shooting: Barack Obama meets victims and pleads for unity

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