Yesterday at a Madden tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, a disgruntled gamer opened fire and killed two people, another in a string of public massacres that have become all too common in the U.S.
And once again, Americans—who overwhelmingly support changes to the status quo on gun rights—directed their ire at the National Rifle Association (NRA), the lobbying agency that fights for gun rights, as well as the politicians who accept donations from it.
Leading the charge were the vocal teens of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who became advocates in the wake of the Valentine’s Day shooting at their school in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17.
“Remember in November,” David Hogg wrote.
Remember in November
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) August 26, 2018
This is where we did our Road To Change event just this past month.
— Alex Wind (@al3xw1nd) August 26, 2018
WAKE UP AMERICA!
PEOPLE ARE DYING! https://t.co/nvYUs4lT5Z
Other kids, who have grown up in an era of mass shootings, rallied as well.
https://twitter.com/radishrebecca/status/1033824117139668992
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) drew a brunt of their criticism on Twitter, too.
https://twitter.com/ErmiyaFanaeian/status/1033842469366976512
After Rubio tweeted about the shooting, his inefficacy in enacting (or even proposing) any legislation in the wake of the Parkland shooting also came up again.
.@marcorubio
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) August 26, 2018
How many mass shootings in your state will it take for you to do something?
“[W]e should also start focusing more on WHY people commit violence,” he wrote.
Rubio’s tweet Monday morning didn’t do him any favors, ignoring one of the common denominators in all these shootings.
Terrible weekend for #Jacksonville #Florida. Gang violence at high school game on Friday, then violence at ESport event on Sunday. I have no problem focusing on WHAT was used to commit violence. But we should also start focusing more on WHY people commit violence.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 27, 2018
its ok to say guns in a tweet, the NRA isn’t going to take their money back that fast
— Bre (@wootBre) August 27, 2018
“What”
— Counselor Nachos (@CounselorNachos) August 27, 2018
What is what? He can’t even say it. I haven’t said a word on this yet and really don’t want to politicize it so won’t say anything more, but does anyone actually buy this shit anymore? This faux deference to actually getting something done? https://t.co/ObgUbx3m1j
This is what complicity looks like from those elected to represent. We can explore the why, but since Rubio does not plan to do anything regardless, what's the point. https://t.co/gNSxYXlo3y
— Michael Mann Ⓥ🟧 (@michaelmannspc) August 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/IrishNewsHound/status/1034054356725891077
Of course, as with any gun debate, while many advocated for more restrictions in a nation where firearms are easier to access than anyone else in the world, more guns is also always presented as a solution to these killings.
Like from the NRA’s Dana Loesch who complained about “gun free zones,” which are a common target from NRA supporters.
A horrible tragedy. End gun free zones or have the security in place to keep people safe in them. https://t.co/GlbQGxhJ5Z https://t.co/fhpWKde0Mh
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 26, 2018
That didn’t go over too well online, either.
I assume all the gun-loving "it's too soon, don't politicize this tragedy" shitbags will be calling out Dana Loesch. https://t.co/33J8DReYj6
— Darby Schaaf (@tokenliberal) August 26, 2018
You have to admit this is fairly barbarian thinking. The priority is not protecting people from being shot, but the desire to be able to shoot back. https://t.co/mpA7KewAzP
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) August 27, 2018
While this conversation may seem banal—having happened time and time again without many changes—November is fast approaching, the first election after Las Vegas, Parkland, Sutherland Springs, Annapolis, and now Jacksonville.