(Screen Capture)

(CNSNews.com) - In the immediate wake of last night's mass shooting in Las Vegas--where at least 58 people were murdered and more than 500 were injured--House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R.-Wisc.) saying that Congress “has a moral duty” to address what she called an “epidemic of gun violence.”

In addressing the issue, she said, the House should both enact legislation to “strengthen” the background checks conducted when people purchase guns and impanel a special committee on “gun violence”

“The epidemic of gun violence in our country continues to challenge the conscience of our nation,” Pelosi wrote in her letter to Ryan.

“I urge you to create a Select Committee on Gun Violence to study and report back common sense legislation to help end this crisis,” Pelosi wrote. “The bipartisan committee would make recommendations to prevent unspeakable tragedies such as the mass shooting in Las Vegas and to restore confidence in the safety of our communities.”

Here is the full text of Pelosi’s letter to the Speaker of the House:

Dear Mr. Speaker:

The epidemic of gun violence in our country continues to challenge the conscience of our nation.

Today, our nation woke up to news of the worst mass shooting in our history, claiming the lives of at least 58 innocent men and women in Las Vegas. Nearly 12,000 Americans have been killed by guns with 273 mass shootings in 2017 – one for each day of the year. On average, more than 90 Americans lose their lives to gun violence every day, a daily toll of heartbreak and tragedy in communities across America.

Congress has a moral duty to address this horrific and heartbreaking epidemic. Charged with the solemn duty to protect and defend the American people, we must respond to these tragedies with courage, unity and decisive action.

First, Congress must pass the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation to strengthen the life-saving background checks that keep guns out of the wrong hands. But this is only a first step.

I urge you to create a Select Committee on Gun Violence to study and report back common sense legislation to help end this crisis. The bipartisan committee would make recommendations to prevent unspeakable tragedies such as the mass shooting in Las Vegas and to restore confidence in the safety of our communities.

Today is a day for prayer, mourning and love, but it must also be a day for action. As Members of Congress, our words of comfort to the families of the victims of the Las Vegas massacre will ring hollow unless we take long overdue action to ensure that no other family is forced to endure such an unimaginable tragedy.

Thank you for your solemn and swift consideration of this request.

best regards,

Nancy Pelosi

Democratic Leader