The temporary memorial at Pulse Nightclub (screen capture)
The nation mourns today as we observe the 3rd anniversary of the tragic Pulse Nightclub shooting that left 49 dead and 50+ more injured.
Beginning at noon on Wednesday, bells were tolled 49 times in Orlando, Florida, to commemorate the life of each person who died in the deadly mass shooting.
CNN reports that during a memorial ceremony on Monday, Reps. Stephanie Murphy, Val Demings and Darren Soto shared their plans to sponsor landmark legislation, H.R. 3094. Soto said he would like to see the legislation pass by June 2020.
The local non-profit OnePulse Foundation would retain control of the design and construction, but the designation would make the monument eligible for federal funds as part of the National Park System. If passed, work to build a permanent memorial would begin by 2021.
In the early morning hours of June 12, 2016, lone gunman Omar Mateen entered Pulse Nightclub and opened fire killing 49 people and injuring more than 50 more. During the crisis, Mateen told police he considered himself a soldier of ISIS.
At the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Two years later, a temporary memorial in front of the nightclub.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Tuesday commemorating June 12 as Pulse Remembrance Day, and directed all state flags in the state to be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday.
