GOP Congressmen offering “thoughts and prayers” for Orlando accepted NRA donations.
The Sunday shooting in Orlando that left 50 dead and at least 50 wounded is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. But the response from most members of Congress—especially Republicans—has been routine. They have issued tweets and press releases offering “thoughts and prayers”—and nothing more.
The reasons for this weak, rote response are simple and sadly familiar. Though the shooter used an AR-15 assault rifle—the same kind of weapon used to kill 26 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012—and though he had been investigated by the FBI and was reportedly on a terrorist “watch list,” these politicians are unlikely to push for even the most measly gun-control measures, such as a ban on assault weapons or a bill denying gun purchases to suspected terrorists. Just this past December, Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have stopped people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns.
AdvertisementRepubs who would like gun regs don’t back NRA positions bc they get $4K for their campaigns, it’s to avoid $400K against them in a primary
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) June 12, 2016
That bill had tremendous popular support—a Quinnipiac University poll found that 77 percent of American voters support banning people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns. Nevertheless, the gun lobby, representing a small but powerful minority of voters, persuaded politicians to vote against it with tactics including millions of dollars in campaign donations.
Advertisement Advertisement AdvertisementIt’s worth noting, as Dana Houle did on Twitter, that gun-control–opposing politicians act out of fear that the NRA will push them out of office by backing a more right-leaning primary challenger.
Still, it’s valuable to catalog the politicians who offer “thoughts and prayers” while receiving money from the NRA and similar groups. Igor Volsky of the Center of American Progress has made it a tradition to do just that, pairing tweets from members of Congress with the added context of how much money each politician accepted from the gun lobby. We’ve rounded up a selection of these tweets below.
Advertisement.@SenRonJohnson accepted $1.3 million+ from gun rights groups, so all you'll get are his #ThoughtsAndPrayers https://t.co/aIANKnToTD
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementMy thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and the brave men and women who risked their lives to save others -rj
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement.@SenBurr go $32,792 in expenditures from @NRA, so his only response to biggest mass shooting will be this tweet https://t.co/xm6Icg4JG2
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementMy thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this morning's horrific attack in Orlando and their loved ones.
— Richard Burr (@SenatorBurr) June 12, 2016
Advertisement.@PeteSessions got $80,000 from @NRA since 1994 so all he can do is pray about mass shootings https://t.co/fm7bfirzSd
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementMy thoughts and prayers are with the people of Orlando and everyone who was impacted by last night's senseless attack.
— Pete Sessions (@PeteSessions) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement.@SenPatRoberts got $322,453+ in expenditures from @NRA, so his response to biggest mass shooting will be this tweet https://t.co/sYx4C8UqbS
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementFranki and I send our thoughts & prayers to the victims of today's horrific violence and their loved ones.
— Senator Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) June 12, 2016
.@VernBuchanan got $16,450 from @NRA so he won't do anything to make it HARDER for terrorists to get guns in US https://t.co/Ynfa7s73aQ
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementTragic news out of Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
— Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement.@RepRichHudson got $3,500 from @NRA, so all he can do is pray w/o taking any action to reduce gun violence https://t.co/QmR4F4WGlT
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementRenee and I are praying for the victims of the #Orlando shooting, their families and first responders.
— Richard Hudson (@RepRichHudson) June 12, 2016
.@ToddRokita took $5,000 from gun lobby to send this tweet and not actually do anything to limit access to guns https://t.co/HlSquQQCtk
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementFollowing last night's tragic shooting, my prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of Orlando.
— Todd Rokita (Archived) (@ToddRokita) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement.@RepDavidYoung took $4,950 from @NRA so all you get are these tweets not any ACTION to ban assault weapons https://t.co/WS5ac0Zd3p
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementMy thoughts & prayers are full for the victims and families of this horrific act of hatred. May God grant them strength & peace. #Orlando
— David Young (@RepDavidYoung) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementSen.@OrrinHatch received $97,848 in expenditures from @NRA & voted against barring terrorists from getting guns https://t.co/A064ir58Xh
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementOur thoughts and heartfelt prayers go out to the victims of this horrific tragedy in Orlando, and to their friends and families. #utpol
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementSen @JohnCornyn got $15,909 in expenditures from @NRA so voted against measure restricting guns to terrorists in Dec https://t.co/3ObobdOMKT
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementPrayers for victims & families: 50 Dead in Shooting at Gay Nightclub in Orlando; Possible Terror Link, via @nytimes https://t.co/DIHuxkXG49
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) June 12, 2016
Franks took:
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
$1,000 from @NRA in 2014
$2,500 in 2012
$2,000 in 2010
$2,000 in 2008
$2,000 in 2006
$4,950 in 2004 https://t.co/ihnxbcI7u0
AdvertisementMy thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families, and first responders in the #Orlando attack.
— Rep. Trent Franks (@RepTrentFranks) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement.@RepPeteOlson took $12,450 from @NRA Will tweet #ThoughtsAndPrayers but will oppose efforts to limit access to guns https://t.co/ChTPlsfCjJ
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementMy thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of @PearlandPD Officer Endy Epankya https://t.co/dBorYJmWlx #RIP
— Rep. Pete Olson (@RepPeteOlson) June 12, 2016
.@RepKevinYoder took $15,900 from @NRA since 2010 so wan't actually DO anything to stop the next "terrible attack" https://t.co/ENoTEbSQJl
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementOur thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the terrible attack in Orlando. Thankful for law enforcement who saved more than 30 lives.
— Rep. Kevin Yoder (@RepKevinYoder) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement.@SenShelby secured @NRA endorsement in December and has taken thousands from the group: https://t.co/fbz1YPJHwn https://t.co/ZLFlC10igs
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementDeeply saddened by the horrific tragedy in Orlando. My thoughts & prayers are with the victims, their families, & the first responders.
— Richard Shelby (@SenShelby) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementSen @TomCottonAR received $2,581,794 in expenditures from NRA, so he voted against closing terror gap back in Dec https://t.co/XEOVJHjL5d
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementMy prayers, and the prayers of all Arkansans, are with the victims of last night's attack in Orlando and their families.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement.@RepTipton took $15,450 from @NRA. Will he do something more than pray to prevent terrorists from getting guns? https://t.co/i6jgnOVOH7
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementPrayers for the people of Florida, the injured, and the families of those killed. Truly sad and horrific.
— Rep. Scott Tipton (@RepTipton) June 12, 2016
.@USRepGaryPalmer took $2,000 from @NRA so all he will do is send his #ThoughtsAndPrayers https://t.co/yJscGtlQVh
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementMy thoughts and prayers go to the victims of the terror attack in #Orlando, their families & the first responders. https://t.co/7YGrXm1bUM
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement.@SenCapito go $94,261 in expenditures from @NRA, so she voted against bill denying guns to people on terror list https://t.co/YalqnQ5w7R
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementPraying for the Orlando community in the wake of this morning’s unthinkable act of violence.
— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) June 12, 2016
.@SteveScalise took $13,950 from @NRA so all he'll do is pray w/ Jennifer that mass shootings will magically stop https://t.co/ZBIZlNooD6
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementJennifer and I are praying for those tragically killed and injured in the Orlando attack, and for their families.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement.@RepMikePompeo got $9,450 from @NRA to tweet his #ThoughtsAndPrayers during moments like this and do nothing at all https://t.co/f5IyNAUoAq
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementTragedy - in the form of mass murder - has once again struck our nation. Susan & my thoughts & prayers are with the victims & their families
— Mike Pompeo (@RepMikePompeo) June 12, 2016
Advertisement.@RoyBlunt got $755,816 from @NRA so all you get are his "condolences." Unfortunately that wont stop mass shootings https://t.co/L4ChFJFucM
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementI join the nation in mourning the loss of innocent lives in #Orlando, and offer my condolences to all of the victims' loved ones.
— Senator Roy Blunt (@RoyBlunt) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement.@RepJoeWilson got $8,500 from @NRA & all he's been doing is tweeting #ThoughtsAndPrayers after every mass shooting https://t.co/zhyf8viBMd
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
Advertisement AdvertisementMy thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the attack in #Orlando and their families.
— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) June 12, 2016
.@replouiegohmert got $11,450 from @NRA so all you get is lousy tweet. No action to limit access to assault weapons https://t.co/5IehAKG5Xy
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
AdvertisementSending prayers and thoughts to those in #Orlando affected by the tragic terrorist attack.
— Louie Gohmert (@replouiegohmert) June 12, 2016
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement.@NRA dumped $922K into McConnell's re-elect, so he voted against stopping people on terror list from buying guns https://t.co/W9dVwBZ959
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 12, 2016
My statement on the #Orlando shooting: "The nation's prayers are with the victims and their families…” pic.twitter.com/RrvnUScq43
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) June 12, 2016
Read more from Slate on the Orlando nightclub shooting.
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