Singer Ricky Martin has called on American Congress leaders to take immediate action on gun control after the recent massacre in Orlando, Florida.
A gunman opened fire in a packed gay club on Sunday morning, killing 49 people and inuring 53 others, and now singer Martin has penned an open letter to Congress leaders urging them to get serious with America's weapons issue.
In an essay titled 'I will never cease to fight for love', the openly gay star condemned the hate crime that took place at the Pulse nightclub during Latin Night, and insisted easy access to weapons make such atrocities possible, reported Entertainment Weekly.
"Although I am out of the country my heart is in Orlando. I still cannot believe that an individual filled with so much hate killed 49 people and injured 53 on June 12. People that unlike him were celebrating love, freedom and life.
"I try to find calmness within, so that I can properly express my current state of mind in this article and share with you how I feel during this important mourning process," he wrote.
"The tragedy that occurred in Orlando hurts me in so many ways. It hurts me as a man, as a human being, and as a gay person, because so many of the victims were brothers and sisters of the LGBT community. I am in pain, I am sad, I am angry."
The 44-year-old "She Bangs" singer went on to state the massacre proved that gun laws "Must change in this country", adding, "I also believe we need to join together and end this hatred."
In his carefully-worded letter, Martin also questioned why 102 people were shot and what these people were doing "That was so awful that a man would drive to Orlando, Florida with an AR-15-style assault rifle and a handgun invigorated with the desire to kill as many from this community as his bullets and time would allow him".
He concluded his letter with a plea to fans and the gay community as a whole, urging everyone to call "each and every one of your congressman... 10 times each day until they act" on gun control.
