Obama meets with Orlando victims' families, renews call for gun control

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President Obama: Orlando shaken by an evil, hateful act

President Obama delivers address in the aftermath of Orlando shooting

President Obama met Thursday with the families of Orlando terror attack victims as part of a solemn visit to a community still recovering from Sunday's massacre that left 50 people, including the gunman, dead.

The visit comes four days after Omar Mateen opened fire at Pulse nightclub early Sunday in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

After Obama met with families of the victims, he and Vice President Biden met with the owners and staff of the nightclub who were working the night of the attack.

Obama said in remarks after the meeting that the city was "shaken by an evil, hateful act." But today, he said, "most of all, there is love."

Obama used his remarks to once again call for gun control measures in Congress. He said while the U.S. will work to destroy ISIS, "it's going to take more than just our military."

"Our politics have conspired to make it as easy as possible for a terrorist ... to buy extraordinary powerful weapons and they can do so legally," Obama said.

"Those who defend the easy accessibility of assault weapons should meet these families," Obama said, before calling on lawmakers to "rise to the moment and do the right thing."

Obama's remarks come as Republicans and Democrats debate gun control measures in the wake of the attack. Some Republicans have shown a willingness to crack down on access to guns for those on terror watch lists, but remain opposed to any move to ban assault weapons.

Many Republican lawmakers say the focus should be on the terror threat from radical Islam, and not gun laws.

"This is not a gun control issue. This is a terrorism issue," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.