2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called on the nation to take a stance against gun violence on Thursday following the horrific massacre at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina Wednesday night.

The mass shooting took place when a white man, identified as 21-year-old Dylann Roof, opened fire at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church around 9 p.m. while the church members were praying. Altogether nine people were killed, including the church's pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, 41. Three people survived.

Earlier that day, the Democratic presidential frontrunner stopped by Charleston for a fundraiser about a mile away from the Emanuel AME Church, reports The Post and Courier.

On Thursday, the former secretary of state made her first public remarks on the tragedy, challenging lawmakers to take new actions to curb gun violence.

"How many people do we need to see cut down before we act?" she asked while speaking at a summit of elected and appointed Latino officials in Las Vegas, according to Time.

"So as we mourn and as our hearts break a little more, and as we send this message of solidarity that we will not forsake those who have been victimized by gun violence, this time we have to find answers together," Clinton said.

The former first lady went on to talk about the emotional toil that she feels following the shooting and its connection to race and division.

"Cut down at prayer. Murdered in a house of God. It just broke my heart. That of course is the last place we should see violence. But we shouldn't see it anywhere," Clinton said. "In the days ahead, we will again ask what led to this terrible tragedy and where we as a nation need to go. In order to make sense of it, we have to be honest. We have to face hard truths about race, violence, guns and division."