"We're all outraged," Ryan said. "An attack on the people who protect us is an attack on all of us."

Ryan's underlying message was that at this crossroads, the country would need to find a way not to retreat to its ideological corners, but instead come together to grieve, to heal, and to seek justice.

"There will be a temptation to let our anger harden our divisions," Ryan said. "Let's not let that happen."

Five police officers were killed and seven officers and two civilians were wounded in the attack Wednesday night at the end of what had been a peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration in downtown Dallas.

"This has been a long week for our country. This has been a long month for
America. We have seen terrible, terrible senseless things," Ryan said.

Ryan reiterated that "every Republican and every Democrat wants to see less gun violence," a statement that comes after a decision was made to indefinitely postpone a vote on gun legislation seeking to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.

"Sometimes we disagree on how to get there. Sometimes we disagree passionately in how to get there. But in having this debate let's not lose sight on the values that unite us," Ryan said.