O’Malley Calls Out GOP for Offering Nothing but ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ After Shooting
With another mass shooting in the United States comes the mostly expected reactions from the various men and women currently in the midst of presidential campaigns.
Jeb Bush was first out of the gate with this message of prayer:
Praying for Umpqua Community College, the victims, and families impacted by this senseless tragedy.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) October 1, 2015
Nearly identical messages from other GOP candidates followed:
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy at Umpqua Community College.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 1, 2015
The thoughts and prayers of Ohioans go out to the families & victims of the tragic shooting in Oregon today. -John
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) October 1, 2015
It's with a heavy heart that we all pray for those killed or injured in Oregon today. #UCCShooting
— George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) October 1, 2015
My prayers are with everyone in Oregon. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 1, 2015
Speaking to radio host Hugh Hewitt, Ben Carson took things to the next level by saying gun control “obviously” has nothing to do with this shooting and arguing against “very dangerous” efforts like gun registration.
Then came this tweet from Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley, which seemed as if it was aimed directly at Republicans:
Tweets won't stop this. Thoughts and prayers won't, either. Only real gun reforms will stop mass shootings from occurring nearly every day.
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) October 1, 2015
Echoing O’Malley, Hillary Clinton called for “sensible gun control measures” in her first public reaction moments later:
Another devastating shooting. We need sensible gun control measures to save lives, and I will do everything I can to achieve that. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 1, 2015
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is using his Twitter account this afternoon to attack Mitt Romney:
.@MittRomney is trying to hit back at me because I'm saying that he let the Repub Party down w/ his loss to Obama. Should've won—he choked!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2015
[Photo via screengrab]
— —
