Earlier today, 17 children and adults were killed and another 15 were injured when a shooter opened fire at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School.
It’s now the eight deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, behind Las Vegas (58), Orlando (49), Virginia Tech (32), Sandy Hook (27), Sutherland Springs (26), as well as the 1991 shooting at a Luby’s Cafeteria (21) and the 1994 shooting at a San Ysidro McDonald’s (21).
At the time of writing, five of the 17 victims have yet to be identified. Five people are in hospital with life-threatening conditions.
Like clockwork, thoughts and prayers have rolled in from just about every corner of politics – including Donald Trump and Mike Pence – but of course, they’re mostly toothless statements.
Once again, Americans are asking their lawmakers to re-examine gun control.
“Defenders of the status quo – advocates of the gun industry and the politicians paid to defend it – will tell you that events like these are virtual acts of nature, products of mental illness or bad parenting, beyond our ability to control. This couldn’t be further from the truth,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting attack in 2011.
“Every day we fail to take action, we chose this fate. We tolerate politicians who fail to acknowledge this crisis and vote against our safety. We let our gun violence epidemic continue day after deadly day …
“The question now is if we will find the courage to pass the laws we need to protect our children, to stop dangerous people from accessing guns. And if Congress won’t act, American voters must.”
On Twitter, people implored the country to bring in gun control, with many using the hashtag #GunControlNow to call for a swift approach to crack down on gun violence.
The families in Parkland are suffering for no good reason. We send love, sympathy and prayers tonight and DEMAND that our “leaders” do SOMETHING to stop this tomorrow. How many have to suffer before we stop looking the other way?
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) February 15, 2018
Our children are dying and we’re doing nothing to stop it. I’m running out of words to describe my anger, frustration, and sadness.
So today I have one message: If you’re unwilling to step up and demand reform, get out of office. #GunControlNow
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 14, 2018
Let me break it down for you Republican Party: you’re arming terrorists with automatic weapons to kill our children. The last three mass murders were at a school, a church, a concert. Nowhere is safe.
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) February 15, 2018
If you think guns make us safer and deter violence, remember that JFK and Reagan were surrounded by some of the world’s best armed guards and their guns did not prevent the shootings.#guncontrol #guncontrolnow #resist #thoughtsandprayers #resist #floridashooting #parkland
— Dr. DaShanne Stokes 🌐 (@DaShanneStokes) February 15, 2018
Gun Control doesn’t mean tearing up the 2nd Amendment. It means coming up with laws that fit within the Constitution and also help prevent events like we saw in Parkland Florida today. This doesn’t happen in countries with strict gun laws. #GunControlNow
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) February 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/963934251845607424
We owe it to our children and our teachers to keep them safe while at school. Prayers won’t do this: action will. Congress, please do your job and protect Americans from senseless gun violence
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) February 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/Muna_Mire/status/963880276689653760
If you are not willing to re-examine and renegotiate our relationship to guns and violence, you are a culprit and a coward of the highest order.
This is the 5th school shooting this year and it’s only February. Grow a spine, America.
— Listening in the Dark ✨ Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) February 15, 2018
This is not a political issue. This is not a Constitutional debate. This is a pandemic that’s killing children. And it’s perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of “life” but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby. @RoyBlunt @SenatorBurr @SenThomTillis @SenCoryGardner
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 14, 2018
Another horrible, senseless mass shooting in Florida. The probable outcome is sadly predictable: Public outcry, which cues the NRA to lobby Congress harder and sadly likely nothing will happen. When will we demand better?
— Larry King (@kingsthings) February 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/IjeomaOluo/status/963937704030306304
https://twitter.com/usblm/status/963939533975904256
People have also hit back at those who say – as they do after every single mass shooting – that now is not the time to talk about gun control.
For those who say the day of a tragedy involving gun violence is not the day to discuss gun policies, I say to you, it’s beyond time. Further, “The time is always right to do what is right.” #MLK
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) February 15, 2018
Here we are, friends. Not wanting high schoolers to experience gun violence is now “political.” pic.twitter.com/GeS3E1DtzH
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 14, 2018
Sorry for using dead children to advance my controversial political agenda of wanting fewer dead children
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) February 15, 2018
People have also been turning on politicians who take millions of dollars from the National Rifle Association (NRA) in campaign funds. An L.A.-based writer is even retweeting politicians offering their “thoughts and prayers” with exactly how much money they accepted from the organisation.
Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2018
$3,303,355.00 https://t.co/rz8BPWS7QS
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 14, 2018
I am heartbroken for the students & family of those involved in this horrible tragedy & I’m praying for our first responders as they act swiftly to contain the situation. https://t.co/rCn5lFYhHP
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) February 14, 2018
$3,879,064.00 https://t.co/QXhmuQKTpF
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 14, 2018
Heartbreaking news out of Florida. Jane and I send our prayers to the school, the community, and the victims of this tragedy.
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) February 14, 2018
$3,061,941.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans buy guns. https://t.co/rXKbCaDHLf
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 14, 2018
Praying for the students, teachers and first responders affected by the tragic shooting in Florida. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.
— Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@BillCassidy) February 14, 2018
$2,861,047.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans keep buying guns. https://t.co/3OZay5yRZs
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 14, 2018
Tragic news out of Florida. Please keep the victims, their families, first responders and the community in your thoughts and prayers.
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) February 14, 2018
$4,418,012.00
Four million four hundred eighteen thousand and twelve dollars from the NRA. https://t.co/kPZQIPTg42— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 14, 2018
I’m devastated to hear about the tragedy in Florida. Praying today for the students and all those impacted.
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) February 14, 2018
$800,544 from the NRA. https://t.co/ZfrdCCc0jB
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 14, 2018
This is NOT counting the $21 million given to President Trump.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 15, 2018
Meanwhile, people are sharing text conversations between students at Stoneman high and their loved ones sent during the shooting.
“I am so scared Kaitlin,” one student writes to her sister. “Tell [our parents] I love them so much.”
These are the chilling messages I received from my sister. She is safe. Thank you everyone #prayforDouglas #MarjoryStonemanDouglas @browardsheriff @browardschools pic.twitter.com/E3PZo2i2Is
— Kaitlin Carbocci (@kcarboccixo) February 14, 2018
Parent’s conversation with -14-year-old son who is currently in lockdown. pic.twitter.com/6M4f0FrbZJ
— Carli Teproff (@CTeproff) February 14, 2018
