The Baldwin County Commission has decided not to lower its flags following a mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub, Chairman Tucker Dorsey said.

President Barack Obama and Gov. Robert Bentley ordered flags to be lowered at all federal and state buildings. Dorsey said the shooting that left 49 dead and 53 wounded wasn't a "valid circumstance" for the action. He cited section 175, paragraph M of the U.S. Flag Code, which said the flag will be lowered during Memorial Day and following the deaths of certain governmental leaders.

Dorsey said the commission did the same thing after the San Bernardino and Paris attacks. Although his heart goes out to those affected by the shooting, he said keeping the flags raised high sends a symbolic message.

"When the flag is at half-staff, our country's head is figuratively held low, and quite frankly, I am not willing to hang my head down because of a terrorist attack against our people and our allies," Dorsey said on Facebook. "I am not willing to hang my head down because evil shoots up a church, school, or movie theater...I want us, as Americans, to stand tall, courageously, and fight back against the forces of evil, and let's fight like we intend to win."