'Heartsick,' 'Furious': 2020 Democrats respond to Virginia Beach mass shooting

Post to Facebook

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

• 1 of 25
• 2 of 25
• 3 of 25
• 4 of 25
• 5 of 25
• 6 of 25
• 7 of 25
• 8 of 25
• 9 of 25
• 10 of 25
• 11 of 25
• 12 of 25
• 13 of 25
• 14 of 25
• 15 of 25
• 16 of 25
• 17 of 25
• 18 of 25
• 19 of 25
• 20 of 25
• 21 of 25
• 22 of 25
• 23 of 25
• 24 of 25
• 25 of 25

11 killed in Virginia Beach shooting at municipal center; gunman dead

What we know so far: ‘I was scared to death’: 11 dead in Virginia Beach mass shooting

Here is how the Democratic candidates responded to the latest mass shooting:

Joe Biden

“11 innocent lives cut down. 11 more futures denied. When will we finally say enough is enough?” the former vice president tweeted. “It’s long past time to hold our leaders accountable. Jill and I are heartbroken that more American families are suffering tonight in Virginia Beach.”

Elizabeth Warren

“I’m heartsick and praying for the victims and their loved ones. Eleven people should not have been murdered today. How many lives will it take before Congress acts to end this crisis?” the Massachusetts senator tweeted. 

Bernie Sanders

“Jane and I are grieving for the victims in Virginia Beach and their families. The days of the NRA controlling Congress and writing our gun laws must end,” Sen. Sanders, I-Vt., tweeted. “Congress must listen to the American people and pass gun safety legislation. This sickening gun violence must stop.”

Pete Buttigieg

“Another horrific shooting shocks the nation, this time in Virginia Beach. We grieve with those impacted even as we await more information,” the South Bend, Ind., mayor tweeted. “Already, this much is clear: it is unacceptable for America to remain the only developed country where this is routine. We must act.”

Kamala Harris

“Heartbroken for the victims and their families of the Virginia Beach shooting and grateful for the first responders on the scene,” the California senator tweeted. “This senseless act of violence should not be normal. Too many communities have been shattered by gun violence — we cannot continue to stand idly by.”

Beto O’Rourke

“Thinking of the Virginia Beach community, the families forever changed, the lives cut short by gun violence and the inaction in this country to prevent it,” the former Texas congressman wrote. “I want to work with you to meet this crisis with the urgency it demands and finally end this epidemic.”

Cory Booker

“11 people dead. My heart breaks for those killed in another senseless act of gun violence the loved ones of the victims whose lives are now shattered,” the New Jersey senator tweeted. “We have the power to stop this—we can will pass commonsense gun safety laws to end these tragedies.”

More newsletters

Kirsten Gillibrand

“I’m heartbroken and furious for the Virginia Beach community, particularly the loved ones of the 11 people murdered today. We can’t keep doing this,” Gillibrand tweeted.

I’m heartbroken and furious for the Virginia Beach community, particularly the loved ones of the 11 people murdered today.

We can’t keep doing this. https://t.co/S68meHLEWy

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) June 1, 2019

Amy Klobuchar

“My thoughts are with the Virginia Beach wounded the families of those who lost loved ones today,” the Minnesota senator tweeted. “We can’t become numb to these tragedies. We must pass gun safety legislation. The vast majority of Americans agree. We just need to get people in Washington who will represent them.”

Julián Castro

“Heartbreaking news out of Virginia Beach as another community copes with a senseless gun violence attack,” the former HUD secretary tweeted. “We can and must pass common sense reforms to end the gun violence epidemic—and ensure no community has to endure the pain that the Virginia Beach community feels today.”

Michael Bennet

“Another unspeakable act of violence. Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones, the Virginia Beach community, and all those affected by this tragic shooting,” the Colorado senator tweeted.

Andrew Yang

“The shooting in Virginia Beach is a nightmare come to life – a disgruntled employee who massacred innocents. My heart goes out to the families and individuals who were killed and injured,” Yang wrote in a series of tweets. “We have to make it harder for people to get and use guns that can cause such tragedies.”

He went on to advocate for more “common sense gun regulations.”

“We can move forward. We must move forward. The alternative is to become a country numb to periodic mass shootings. We must be better than that. We owe it to ourselves and our children,” he wrote.

The shooting in Virginia Beach is a nightmare come to life – a disgruntled employee who massacred innocents. My heart goes out to the families and individuals who were killed and injured. We have to make it harder for people to get and use guns that can cause such tragedies.

— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) June 1, 2019

Eric Swalwell

“As I was with a film crew recording a video on mass shootings we were told another community has suffered a mass shooting,” the California congressman tweeted. “#Virginia, we mourn with you. This can never be normal. It is never too early for us to also say #EnoughIsEnough.”

John Hickenlooper

“The news out of Virginia Beach is simply devastating. Public servants who just showed up to do their job are not coming home tonight because of gun violence,” the former Colorado governor tweeted. “This story has played out too many times in too many towns. We need to stand up and stop this. #EnoughIsEnough”

John Delaney

“This is the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach,” -Mayor Robert M. Dyer. Our hearts are with the people of Virginia Beach, especially the victims and their families in this time of grief,” Delaney wrote in a series of tweets.

“We can’t accept this as normal, we need to take action on gun safety. We can’t go on like this,” he concluded.

Like what you’re reading?: Download the USA TODAY app for more

Article source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~/602606776/0/usatodaycomwashington-topstories~aposHeartsickapos-aposFuriousapos-Democrats-respond-to-Virginia-Beach-mass-shooting/