Democrats call for action after Texas mass shooting

Numerous Democratic presidential candidates spoke out Saturday after a gunman in West Texas killed five people and wounded more than a dozen others.

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) called the situation “f—ed up” at a campaign stop in Virginia, and tweeted the same thing afterward.

“We do know that this is f—ed up. We know that this has to stop in our country,” O’Rourke told a small crowd of supporters, who cheered loudly in reaction to his remarks.

We don’t know how many have been killed. We don’t know the motivation. But here’s what we do know: This is fucked up. pic.twitter.com/NRvyPfUjiM

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 1, 2019

“I’m heartbroken, sickened, & angry. Weeks after the horror in El Paso, another community in Texas has been terrorized by gun violence. Enough. We must end this epidemic. @DrBiden & I send our thoughts to those affected & thank our law enforcement who responded at great risk,” tweeted former Vice President Joe Biden.

I’m heartbroken, sickened, & angry. Weeks after the horror in El Paso, another community in Texas has been terrorized by gun violence. Enough. We must end this epidemic.@DrBiden & I send our thoughts to those affected & thank our law enforcement who responded at great risk.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 1, 2019

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called for congressional action on gun violence in a tweet, writing that she was “heartsick” over the shooting in which as many as 22 people were reported wounded.

“I’m heartsick for the victims of this latest mass shooting in Odessa and Midland. We shouldn’t have to live with this near daily fear and horror. We’ve already lost far too many to gun violence—Congress must act now,” she tweeted.

I’m heartsick for the victims of this latest mass shooting in Odessa and Midland. We shouldn’t have to live with this near daily fear and horror. We’ve already lost far too many to gun violence—Congress must act now. https://t.co/Hgdb7h6kpI

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 31, 2019

“I’m sick of this. America is sick of this,” added Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) in her own tweet. “We need to act.”

Keeping the Midland and Odessa community and the victims in my thoughts and prayers. Grateful to first responders who ran into harm’s way.

I’m sick of this. America is sick of this.

We need to act.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2019

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang tweeted after the shooting that the U.S. is the “only country” facing such a level of gun violence and wrote in a pair of tweets that Americans deserve better than to fear being “struck down at random.”

“We are the only country that struggles with gun violence at this level. Other countries respond to tragedy. We must as well. Our people deserve better than to live in fear and be struck down at random. We are better than this. We will do better for our kids,” he wrote.

We are the only country that struggles with gun violence at this level. Other countries respond to tragedy. We must as well. Our people deserve better than to live in fear and be struck down at random. We are better than this. We will do better for our kids.

— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) August 31, 2019

“Another tragic mass shooting. We have to take action. Universal background checks, banning assault weapons, red flag laws and more. People deserve to be safe driving down the highway, going to church, going to school, everywhere,” tweeted former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.).

Another tragic mass shooting. We have to take action. Universal background checks, banning assault weapons, red flag laws and more. People deserve to be safe driving down the highway, going to church, going to school, everywhere.

— John Delaney (@JohnDelaney) September 1, 2019

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D), one of the newer additions to the 2020 race, noted in his statement that the Texas shooting came less than 24 hours after a shooter in Alabama injured 10 people at a high school football game.

“Last night, 10 people were shot in Alabama. We are going to learn more about what happened tonight in Midland — but what we do know is that countless lives were changed forever. This is not normal,” he wrote.

Last night, 10 people were shot in Alabama. We are going to learn more about what happened tonight in Midland — but what we do know is that countless lives were changed forever.

This is not normal.

— Steve Bullock (@GovernorBullock) August 31, 2019

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) highlighted a report indicating that one of the Midland victims injured was a 17-month-old infant, whose condition Saturday was unclear following the shooting.

A 17-month-old baby.

It’s perverse that we live in a society where this is allowed to happen. My heart goes out to all those affected by today’s mass shootings in Odessa and Midland, Texas. https://t.co/HgEnreuhSK

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) September 1, 2019