With the Southern California shooting still underway on Wednesday, reaction was already pouring in from the Republican and Democratic camps—from the president, the presidential candidates and other politicians, WND reported.
At that point the situation was still fluid. Flash news bulletin said a man and a woman were suspected of taking part in a shooting that killed 14 people and wounded 17 at a Southern California social services agency in San Bernardino, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, and that the two suspects were killed in a shootout with police hours later.
Another detail that was reported was that the shooting rampage occurred at a holiday party on the campus of an agency that serves the developmentally disabled.
It marked the deadliest U.S. gun violence since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012, in which 27 people, including the gunman, were killed.
This incident differed, however, from other mass killings since it involved more than one gunman, reports said. It also comes on the heels of the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris which prompted U.S. authorities to tighten security in public places across the nation.
The reactions immediately showed the political divide in America. Republicans expressed sympathy for the victims, while the Democrats—led by President Barack Obama—called for more gun control. The call was made even as California is already known to have some of America's strictest restrictions on gun ownership, commentators pointed out.
With the situation still unclear, Obama quickly took to the air to call for tougher gun control. Even as the search for the shooting suspects was still underway, the president called for "common-sense gun safety laws, stronger background checks," adding, "There are steps we can take to make Americans safer, and we should come together on a bipartisan level to make these rare as opposed to normal."
"We have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere else in the world," he said.
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton was also quick to react to the San Bernardino shootings. She tweeted: "I I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now."
Bernie Sanders chimed in: "Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, tweeted: "As families of victims grieve & survivors heal in #SanBernardino, entire American family mourns. Enough is enough."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California said, "Details in San Bernardino are still murky, but what we do know is that these deadly shootings aren't slowing down. Just a week after a deadly attack in Colorado Springs, we're prepared to mourn more victims today."
On the Republican camp, there was noticeably no mention of "gun control" or "gun violence," only sympathy for the victims.
Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump tweeted: "California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!"
Ted Cruz focused on the victims, saying, "Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm's way to save others."
The other Republican presidential candiates basically expressed the same sentiment.
Ben Carson: "My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino."
Mike Huckabee: "Praying for those impacted by the shooting in California today."
Jeb Bush: "Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting."
Rand Paul: "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families, and brave first responders during this unspeakable tragedy."
George Pataki: "Praying for the victims and first responders in #SanBernardino for a quick resolution."
John Kasich: "My thoughts & prayers go out to those impacted by the shooting in San Bernardino, especially the first responders."
Lindsey Graham: "Thoughts & prayers are with #SanBernardino."
