Last updated on February 28th, 2018 at 11:30 am
After the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida that resulted in the deaths of 17 people, most legislators in Congress went on social media to offer their condolences. Posts by Democrats usually emphasized the need for gun control reform. Posts by Republicans, on the other hand, offered nothing more useful than “thoughts and prayers.”
Among those GOP members who posted were eight of ten senators most heavily backed by the National Rifles Association (NRA). They all got slammed by people pointing out the hypocrisy of their willingness to take money from the association, consistently vote against reforming gun laws that would make it harder for civilians to get guns, and then proceeding to share grieving messages.
Here’s what those senators had to say.
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John McCain
Cindy & I are praying for all those impacted by the senseless shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in #Florida. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, all first responders & the entire Parkland community.
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) February 15, 2018
According to The New York Times, McCain is the Senate’s top GOP recipient of the NRA’s financial support, with $7,740,521 Last February, he was one of 52 Republican senators to vote in favor of overturning an Obama-era law which mandated that an estimated 75,000 people deemed too mentally unfit even have control of their personal finances must be added to the national background check database. The Obama law was aimed at making it more difficult for people with severe mental health issues to obtain firearms.
Thom Tillis
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
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis has received $4,418,012 from the NRA, making him the fourth most-supported candidate in the Senate supported by the association. He also voted in favor of rolling back the Obama-era law that implemented extra checks for those with serious mental heal problems.
Cory Gardner
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
Sen. Cory Gardner is the fifth most popular GOP senator within the NRA. He’s enjoyed $3,879,064 of their financial backing. Like the two above, he also voted to nullify the Obama gun control law last February.
Marco Rubio
Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2018
Rubio has gotten $3,303,455 from the NRA over the course of his career. Being that he’s a senator from Florida where the shooting took place, for the past few days Rubio has been posting biblical quotes and lashing out at the media for calling him and other Republicans out on the hypocrisy of their social media posts offering thoughts and prayers coupled with their never-wavering efforts to block practically every gun control measure introduced.
Joni Ernst
Please join me in praying for the students, faculty, and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as their loved ones. Let us also show our gratitude to the courageous first responders.
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) February 14, 2018
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst also tweeted a message calling for prayers for the shooting victims. The NRA has given her $3,124,273 in support, making her the association’s seventh most-supported GOP senator.
Rob Portman
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
Rob Portman is the NRA’s eighth most-backed Republican in the Senate with a total of $3,061,941 throughout his career.
Todd Young
Heartbroken by the news in Florida. Sending prayers to the students, faculty, families, first responders, and everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.
— Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) February 15, 2018
Indiana Sen. Todd Young, who’s gotten the help of $2,896,732 from the NRA and consistently votes against gun control measures, also took to Twitter to offer his prayers.
Bill Cassidy
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
And finally, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the NRA’s 10th most-supported GOP senator and recipient of $2,861,047, felt the need to go post a tweet sharing his prayers and nothing more.
Students of the high school where the shooting was carried out have been calling out both the NRA and legislators like the ones above, to much national attention. It definitely feels like time’s up for these lawmakers’ failure to act on gun control.
