At least 26 people were killed Sunday when a gunman wearing all black and a ballistic vest went on a shooting spree inside and outside a small Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, east of San Antonio.
The death toll, which increased throughout Sunday, was confirmed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The victims at First Baptist Church included a pregnant woman and her children.
The suspect was identified by two law enforcement sources, who spoke on the condition of remaining anonymous, as 26-year-old white male named Devin P. Kelley.
The first reaction almost anyone has after a mass shooting like the one Sunday in Texas is to offer "thoughts and prayers" to the victims and their families. But a lot of people are becoming fed up with our elected leaders for that response.
House Speaker Paul Ryan and President Trump have been the target of many people's anger. Here are some of the most notable tweets:
- Bette Midler: "About the epidemic of mass shootings? Watch politicians tweet condolences, thoughts and prayers and then go to cocktails with gun lobbyists."
- Keith Olbermann: “Thoughts and prayers” again, @realDonaldTrump, idiot? These people were in CHURCH. They WERE praying."
- Wil Wheaton: The murdered victims were in a church. If prayers did anything, they'd still be alive, you worthless sack of [crap]."
- Josh Gad: "Terror attack that kills 6 gets travel bans same day; Deadliest mass shooting and deadliest church shooting ever get prayers and too soon to talk."
- Joy Reid: "Enough with the 'thoughts and prayers' already. The Bible teaches us that faith without works is dead. Do something or say nothing."