Stephen King Urges Americans to ‘Stop Electing Apologists For Murder’ After Mass Shooting Strikes Close to Home

Alex GriffingOct 26th, 2023, 1:38 pm

In this image taken from video released by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, an unidentified gunman points a gun while entering Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Maine State Police ordered residents in the state's second-largest city to shelter in place Wednesday night as the suspect remains at large.

Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office via AP

Stephen King fumed at the ongoing mass shooting crisis gripping the United States on Thursday after a gunman murdered 18 people and wounded 13 more at a bar and bowling alley in Maine.

King, one of Maine’s most famous residents, wrote, “The shootings occurred less than 50 miles from where I live. I went to high school in Lisbon.”

The renowned horror writer added, “It’s the rapid-fire killing machines, people. This is madness in the name of freedom. Stop electing apologists for murder.”

The shootings occurred less than 50 miles from where I live. I went to high school in Lisbon. It’s the rapid-fire killing machines, people. This is madness in the name of freedom. Stop electing apologists for murder.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 26, 2023

In mid-September the U.S. passed 500 different mass shooting events in 2023. “Just five years ago, the country had never experienced 500 mass shootings in one year,” noted Axios in a report that listed the amount of mass shootings in the last five years:

2018: 335 mass shootings
2019: 414 mass shootings
2020: 610 mass shootings
2021: 689 mass shootings
2022: 645 mass shootings

The manhunt for the Maine shooter was still underway midday Thursday as an arrest warrant was issued for Robert R. Card, a sergeant at a nearby U.S. Army Reserve base. This summer, Card was temporarily committed to a mental health facility, according to authorities who had yet to report on his motive.