With another mass shooting destroying Valentine’s Day at a Florida high school, Republicans are trotting out their “thoughts and prayers” tweets while continuing to do nothing that would jeopardize their A+ NRA ratings.
California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom has had enough of hypocritical pieties from Republican enablers of mass gun violence and wants action taken to protect our students and the rest of the populace from lunatic shooters. He took to Twitter to respond to Republican leaders whose inaction in the face of continuing gun-related atrocities he finds unconscionable.
He started his one-man tweet response tirade at the top, replying to President Trump when he sent out his obligatory “prayers and condolences” tweet.
My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2018
Then do something about it. https://t.co/9a9nV5LzzI
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 14, 2018
Newsom’s next target was Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who has accepted over $3 million in campaign funding from the NRA during his political career.
Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2018
Then do something about it. https://t.co/0MLYXK7CEI
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 14, 2018
He moved on to “broken-hearted” Vice President Mike Pence next.
Our hearts break for all the victims and families affected by today’s terrible school shooting in Broward County, FL. These students, teachers, administrators, & families will all remain in our prayers.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) February 14, 2018
Then do something about it. https://t.co/dHQM7hwwL8
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 14, 2018
While Newsom’s plea for action echoed many other comments made in reply to the Republican gun-purists’ tweets, he took his fair share of negative replies from NRA-supporters. Nevertheless, he persisted, taking aim at GOP Chairwoman Roma McDaniel’s hypocritical supplications, as well as those of Florida Governor Rick Scott.
My heart breaks for all the families, teachers, and students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Praying for all affected by the tragic shooting in Florida today.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 14, 2018
Just spoke with @POTUS about shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. My thoughts and prayers are with the students, their families and the entire community. We will continue to receive briefings from law enforcement and issue updates.
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) February 14, 2018
In both cases, Newsom’s comment was the same, a simple “Then do something about it.”
Presumably having better things to do than reply to every single tweet by a Republican expressing sorrow at the direct result of their failure to pass common-sense gun regulations, Newsom finally sent a blanket comment that covers all politicians who are still saying that now is not the right time to discuss gun regulations, despite the fact that given the rate of school shootings in the U.S., the time will never be right since it’s always just a day or two after another shooting.
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
If your elected officials don’t take Lt. Governor Newsom’s advice and either act on gun control or resign, remember that the midterm elections are coming in November and you can help make that decision for them. If you don’t like how they’re handling the gun violence crisis, then do something about it.
