Congressman Earl Blumenauer called for new gun control legislation Monday, hours after a gunman opened fire at a Las Vegas casino, killing 58 and wounding at least 515.

The Portland Democrat said statements from some Republicans and conservatives that nothing could have been done to stop the mass shooting are "just wrong." He said the Republican-led Congress should consider his plan for reducing gun violence, which he first released in 2015.

The plan includes proposals that no one be able to sell a firearm without a background check, the mental health care system better respond to people at risk of suicide by gun, researchers and the federal government be permitted to study gun violence, certain firearms be barred from public places, and consumer protection laws regulate guns.

"The solutions shouldn't be hard – but sadly, none of the proposals I've laid out have even been considered by Congress," said Blumenauer.

"From Orlando to Roseburg, and now Las Vegas, the carnage has only continued. 'Thoughts and prayers' will not stop future tragedy. Enough is enough. My hope is that sanity will prevail, and Republican leadership in Congress will muster up the courage to act."

It's unlikely that Congress will act. Even if they did, President Trump may not sign new gun control legislation. In his statement Monday, Trump did not mention gun control or call for a change in policy.

Asked if now is the time for a renewed debate about gun control, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters it would be "premature" to discuss policy changes while the law enforcement investigation into the shooting is still underway.

"There's a time and place for a political debate," Sanders said, "but now is the time to unite as a country."

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman