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U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, urged congressional leaders Thursday to take action to strengthen federal background checks on gun purchases -- a move which he argued would help prevent future mass shootings, like the one that killed 17 people at a Florida high school Wednesday.

Pointing to the 18 shootings in schools that -- according to nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety -- have taken place in the United States in 2018 alone, the Springfield Democrat argued that it's time Congress pass "common sense gun legislation" that addresses issues in the current background check process. 

The congressman, who said his "heart breaks" for the families of those killed when alleged gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, further argued that it's "far too easy" for people to buy a gun in the United States. That, he said, includes for those who have criminal backgrounds and mental health conditions. 

Contending that "the vast majority of Americans" support the idea of universal background checks for all gun purchases, Neal said it's time federal lawmakers take action. 

"The time for Congress to pass common sense gun legislation that will strengthen and improve our  federal background check system is long overdue. It is still far too easy for people to buy a gun in this country, particularly those with criminal backgrounds and individuals with a history of mental illness," he said in a statement.

The congressman added that he believes "stronger federal background checks for all gun purchases will help prevent the next tragedy from happening."

"As a father and a grandfather, I don't think parents should have to worry about the safety of their children when they drop them off at school in the morning. And like the vast majority of Americans, I strongly support universal background checks for all gun purchases," he said.

The congressman's call for stronger background checks on gun purchases came shortly after President Donald Trump pledged to "tackle the difficult issue of mental health" and to make school safety a top priority during a national address.

Members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation took issue with the president's failure to address gun violence in his remarks, as well questioned his administration's commitment to addressing mental health-related issues. 

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, argued that Trump failed to mention the word "gun" once in his national address -- something the congressman called "simply stunning."

"(Donald Trump) fails to mention the word 'gun' once in Florida school shooting speech. Not once," he tweeted. "Trump pledges 'whatever you need' to Parkland families, but offers them no plan for gun reform. Americans need action now, not empty words." 

Congressman Joe Kennedy III, D-Brookline, meanwhile, contended that Republicans "gleefully celebrated passing a bill that would have taken mental health care from millions of Americans" last year -- a reference to GOP-led efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. 

"Today, these same men blamed mental illness for gun violence," he tweeted.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, also pointed to the number of school shootings that have occurred in the country so far this year.

"Words are failing us," she said, tweeting images of all the 18 schools included in Everytown's data.

The nonprofit's list includes elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges and universities where guns have reportedly been fired. Not every incident resulted in injuries or deaths. 

Cruz, the 19-year-old suspect in Wednesday's deadly shooting, reportedly had a history of threatening students and made 'disturbing' posts on social media before the incident, according to the Associated Press. 

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told the AP that Cruz had been expelled from the high school for "disciplinary reasons."

Broward County Mayor Beam Furr, in an interview with CNN, said Cruz was getting treatment at a mental health clinic, but had not been back to the clinic for more than a year, AP reported.