Another mass shooting has saddened Americans, this time at a Sikh temple south of Milwaukee that left six people dead on Sunday.

A lone gunman opened fire as services were about to begin at the temple in Oak Creek, Wis., Sunday morning about 10:30. The suspect shot a police officer several times before another officer shot and killed the shooter.

Besides the police officer, three other victims, all adult males, were hospitalized and in critical condition.

Reports on Monday identified the gunman as Wade Michael Page, 40, a white supremacist.

Barely two weeks have passed since the shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that took 12 lives.

Perhaps more will become known in time as to the shooter’s “motive.” But this latest atrocity is another shocking, sad, senseless act of violence that took innocent life.

Americans must deplore this attack on a house of worship, a place of peace, where people were gathered to practice their faith.

Police called it an act of domestic terrorism. The police response was crucial: the first officer who responded was shot and the second one ended the threat — a reminder of what law officers are sometimes called to do to safeguard our communities.

America’s thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who were killed or wounded in this tragedy.

Such acts tear at the nation’s fabric. They are disturbing, defying reason and humanity.

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