LUBBOCK, Texas -
Omar Mateen, 29, is a radicalized Islamist terrorist who wanted the world to know all about his thirst for blood.
Mateen, a home-grown terrorist born in New York, called 911 dispatchers and pledged his alliance to ISIS in the midst of the attack.
Members of ISIS claim they strictly adhere to the teachings of the Qur'an. Sen. Charles Perry said these violent attacks are a result of extremists.
"We've got those extremists that, in their mind, are doing what they believe they're supposed to do," Perry said, "It's a sad day."
The leader of the South Plains Islamic Center, Imam Samer Altabaa said that Mateen had no affiliation with the peaceful religion of Islam.
"Nobody has the right to go and take someone's life," Altabaa said.
Altabaa said the beliefs of ISIS and Islam could not be more different.
"Our faith and all other religions -- they're -- always peace, justice to everyone regardless," Altabaa said, "Anyone that commits any crime, any murder in the name of God or a religion, that person is betraying God, their religion and all human beings."
Perry condemns religiously influenced massacres.
"There's no circumstance where it should give anybody the right to take life," Perry said.
Mateen reportedly attended mosque weekly. Perry said Mateen's extremist ideals pushed him to feel compelled to go through with his attack.
"That individual, for whatever reason, felt compelled to subscribe to the Qur'an and its extremes," Perry said.
Altabaa said extremists, like Mateen, do not have true religious ties.
"These people they are so extreme, I don't believe they have any religion." Altabaa said, "Their religion is violence and killing and murdering and controlling."
Altabaa said the Qur'an specifically addresses murder.
"God says in the Holy Qur'an that if you kill one person, I will judge you on the day of judgment as if you have killed all human beings," Altabaa said.
When asked if the attack was a result of homophobia, Perry said he did not know entirely.
"Was it the homosexual agenda that was the straw that broke this camel's back?," Perry said, "Hard to say, but it doesn't matter. There is no excuse for what he did."
Following the massacre, those who knew Mateen said he often displayed suspicious behavior. Altabaa said these attacks could be prevented, if people reported this kind of activity.
"If you see any person that might make a threat to anyone, we have to stop that person." Altabaa said, "This is the responsibilities of all communities and all people."
Senator Perry explains it is easier said than done.
"Our society has evolved to this political correctness to a point of fault because had those people spoke out," Perry said, "it's very possible that they would have been persecuted by the legal system for speaking out."
After the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, the gun debate is inevitably back on the front lines.
"To use those heavy duty guns that can commit massacres like the horrific one that happened yesterday," Altabaa said, "this is absolutely, totally wrong."
Perry said he believes that the guns are not the issue, the person operating them is.
"The type of gun, the caliber of the gun, the style of gun isn't at issue here," Perry said, "What is at issue is the operations of that, who is it. If you have the evil intent, you're going to get guns it doesn't matter where you're going to get them from."
Regardless of where legislation moves in response to this massacre, Altabaa said Americans can agree on one thing.
"We are going to overcome these terrorist people and these terrorist organizations," Altabaa said.
