Twitter is always bad, but during mass shooting events it is an especially treacherous swamp of unfiltered gut reactions, ill-timed gallows humor, and feverish speculation. Even worse, it remains a campaign tool during even the most incomprehensible acts of violence, such as today’s ongoing mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. Here is how the 2016 presidential candidates have responded on Twitter so far.
My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) December 2, 2015My thoughts & prayers go out to those impacted by the shooting in San Bernardino, especially the first responders. -John
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) December 2, 2015California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2015Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 2, 2015Praying for those impacted by the shooting in California today.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) December 2, 2015Thoughts & prayers are with #SanBernardino
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 2, 2015Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm’s way to save others
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 2, 2015I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now. -H https://t.co/SkKglwQycb
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 2, 2015Horrifying news out of #SanBernardino. Enough is enough: it's time to stand up to the @NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) December 2, 2015If you’re keeping score, that’s prayers, luck, and blessings from Republicans, and gun policy prescriptions from Democrats. One hundred and forty characters isn’t much, to be fair, but I can think of at least one way to split the difference: praying for the strength and wisdom to fix our heinously broken gun policy, for starters.