Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, as well as Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, Governor Dannel Malloy, and Lt Governor Nancy Wyman all weighed in within hours of learning about the mass shooting that occurred in Las Vegas Sunday, October 1.Politico reported he was still hashing out details of the new background checks legislation and wouldn't introduce it imminently. But it would give Democrats a bill to rally behind as Congress once again confronts the divisive issue of gun control, which lawmakers have struggled to pass or even debate after every mass shooting.Salt Lake Tribune.

And by Tuesday morning, Sen Murphy was already working with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence to host a press conference to demand that Congress take immediate action to close loopholes in the background check system and expand the background check system to reduce gun violence.

Rep Esty (CT-5) who represents Newtown, and is a vice chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force stated, "Words fail. My heart aches.

"Another day marred by senseless violence. Another brutal addition to the Mass Shooting Club - a club no one wants to belong to," the Democratic congresswoman said.

"We need a way forward. That way forward requires responsible gun owners to join us. My message to them is this: don't let the big-money interests and extremists speak for you," she said. "If you think what happened today was acceptable; if you think hundreds of Americans gunned down at a country music festival by a single man with an arsenal in his hotel room is fine, then do nothing."

The congresswoman called on all those who own guns and believe in the Second Amendment, and who believe that every American has a right to life and safety, to send a message that, when it comes to gun violence, there is more that unites Americans than divides us.

"Be part of the solution," Rep Esty implored. "We need every American to speak up now. We need to sit around the table with those who disagree with us and stop letting politics prevent us from forging a better, safer way forward for Americans."

Sen Blumenthal (D-CT) said while many details of the incident remain unclear, one thing is certain: "yet again, we are watching in horror as another American community is torn apart by the terrible devastation wrought by a gunman."

"My heart breaks for Las Vegas: the victims, their families, their friends, and their entire community. It has been barely a year since what was previously the largest mass shooting in American history - the deadly attack at Pulse nightclub," he said. "In the interim, thousands more have been lost to the daily, ruthless toll of gun violence. Still, Congress refuses to act. I am more than frustrated, I am furious."

Sen Murphy (D-CT) said in his initial statement, "My heart goes out to the victims, their families, the first responders, and the entire Las Vegas community. Nowhere but America do horrific large-scale mass shootings happen with this degree of regularity. [Sunday] night's massacre may go down as the deadliest in our nation's history, but already this year there have been more mass shootings than days in the year."

Like his congressional colleague Rep Esty, Sen Murphy also said incidents like  the one thousands of concert goers and responders faced in Las Vegas last weekend must stop.

"It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren't public policy responses to this epidemic," he said. "There are, and the thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference. It's time for Congress to get off its ass and do something."

Sen Murphy said Monday he was planning to introduce legislation to strengthen background checks on gun purchases.

As the Senate's chief gun control advocate,

The senator openly acknowledged that stricter background checks might not have flagged the Las Vegas shooter, Stephen Paddock, who cleared all requirements when he purchased a shotgun at a Utah shop, according to the

But "we can't get caught in the trap of only advocating legislation that addressed yesterday's shooting," Sen Murphy told reporters at the Capitol on Monday. "The fact is, 80 other people died from guns yesterday and stronger background checks laws should've saved many of them."

Governor Malloy, who responded to the Sandy Hook tragedy just a couple of months shy of five years ago said, "Our hearts are breaking for the Las Vegas community. [On Monday] morning, our nation woke up to yet another senseless tragedy - one that we have seen repeated far too many times. While we do not know all the details of what took place in Las Vegas - we are incredibly grateful to the first responders and the everyday citizens who bravely risked their lives to save others. We send our sincerest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and we pray for the recovery of the survivors. To all those impacted by last night's shooting - Connecticut stands with you. "

Lt. Governor Wyman said, "We join the country in mourning the citizens who were killed in Las Vegas last night. Our thoughts are with the injured, and with the families who were plunged into the horror of waiting for news on their loved ones. I want to commend the first responders and other citizens who acted with bravery and courage despite the terrible events. Their actions saved lives and we thank them for what they did to protect residents."