After a gunman at a Texas church killed 26 people on Sunday, making it the deadliest mass shooting in the state, politicians, as they usually do, took to Twitter to offer condolences through thoughts and prayers.
May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017
After the #SutherlandSprings shooting the families & community turned to God for grace & healing. Their faith strengthened them. #txlege https://t.co/mOPA6rQ7ee
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 6, 2017
Keeping all harmed in Sutherland Springs in our prayers and grateful for our brave first responders on the scene.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 5, 2017
We pray for the Sutherland Springs community in this difficult time. So incredibly thankful to first responders. #SutherlandSpringsTexas
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 5, 2017
Reports out of Texas are devastating. The people of Sutherland Springs need our prayers right now.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) November 5, 2017
Wil Wheaton, the Star Trek: The Next Generation actor and a prolific writer, has had enough. On Sunday, soon after reports of the shooting began surfacing, Wheaton attacked Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
https://twitter.com/wilw/status/927284357609353218
Almost immediately, Wheaton made one point clear. He wasn’t trying to blast people of faith.
https://twitter.com/wilw/status/927303064863645696
https://twitter.com/wilw/status/927309764983263232
Still, he apparently offended some Twitter users.
https://twitter.com/jdawn1982/status/927285801095979011
https://twitter.com/jdawn1982/status/927286400919195653
https://twitter.com/Bluewitness/status/927285275260276736
https://twitter.com/zafcrackjaw/status/927307809171132416
You mean you want him to take meaningful action that you support. As if gun laws stop evil from carrying out horrible crimes. They won't.
— Hey berto (@Heyberto) November 5, 2017
This makes me feel embarrassed to be an atheist. Do better, Mr. Wheaton.
— Geoffrey Miller (@primalpoly) November 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/POTUSThump/status/927384451214184448
One thing to attack a politician, it’s another to attack the innocent dead and all religion. Looks like you’re the worthless sack of shit…
— Bryan McNally (@BryanDMcNally) November 5, 2017
Plenty of people, though, are frustrated with Congress’ lack of ability (or lack of desire) to do anything to address the continued mass shootings that occur in the U.S. That includes Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). But Wheaton, even with the criticism, had an important question to ask: Will anything change?
https://twitter.com/wilw/status/927303480921931776