ORLANDO, Fla. — Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton visited Pulse nightclub Friday following a roundtable discussion about the terror attack that claimed 49 lives in Orlando.
Local leaders participating in seven-person panel with the Democratic presidential nominee at the Holden Heights Community Center included Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando commissioner Patty Sheehan, and a diverse group that included leaders in LGBTQ, African-American, and Muslim communities.
Part of the discussion will focused on community policing, but the primary focus was on the Pulse nightclub massacre.
Clinton made it clear at the beginning of the discussion that she was there to listen and learn.
“I want to just say a few words because I really want to listen to what your experiences have been,” she said.
City and community leaders gave their thoughts on what happened June 12, when gunman Omar Mateen opened fire inside Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people.
“This can’t happen again,” said Sheehan.
Sheehan told Clinton that the discussion was needed and that it was the right time.
“Having discussions about issues is much more productive than scaring people and having them solve their problems with gun violence,” said Sheehan.
She was one of several who told Clinton that, if elected, something needs to be done at the federal level.
“My handgun saved my life during a break-in, so I believe in the Second Amendment,” she said. “But I do believe we need we need weapons of war off our streets. It took longer to ring the church bells at United Methodist Church than it did to kill these kids. They estimate it took about five minutes to kill them. That’s unacceptable.”
Part of Clinton’s visit involved meeting with family members of Pulse victims and survivors.
After Orlando, Clinton began her travel to Tampa, and will then head to Miami for a Saturday campaign rally at Florida International University.
Her running mate, who has not yet been announced, is expected to appear with Clinton at the FIU rally.
Clinton might announce her running mate choice while in Tampa, but Channel 9 political expert Rick Foglesong said the country might find out who it is before they appear on stage together.
“I would expect that Hillary Clinton would tweet or email her followers her choice and that then the person selected would appear with her in Miami,” Foglesong said.
Democratic sources told Channel 9 that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack are leading contenders for the vice presidential nod.