mass shootings

The semi-automatic rifle has been in wide circulation for more than a half-century. In recent years, gunmen have used AR-15-style weapons to carry out many of the country's worst mass shootings.

Thousands descended on Tallahassee to demand legislative action to prevent future school shootings. "This is only the beginning of our history," one student said. "Please be on the right side of it."

Nearly all of the fatalities were caused by a single gunshot wound, though six died from multiple wounds. The deaths were all ruled homicides.

A group of senators led by John Cornyn, R-Texas, unveiled legislation to ensure that federal agencies upload records to the national background check database.

Frank Pomeroy, whose 14-year-old daughter was among the more than two dozen victims of Sunday's mass shooting, says too many of his parishioners don't want to return to the church.

The FBI is blaming its inability to unlock the cellphone of the Texas shooter on the tech industry's encryption standard. But some experts say if the FBI had acted more quickly, it would have access.

Despite reports that the suspect's criminal record should have stopped him from legally buying firearms, the president said tougher vetting wouldn't have prevented the church attack.

Sunday's shooting marks a profound loss in a place where everyone knows everyone. About half of those killed at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs were children.