House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) immediately reverted to conservative platitudes on gun control ― and his Democratic colleagues stepped in with a fact-check.
“At the end of the day, the problem is the human heart,” Johnson told Fox News host Sean Hannity one day after a gunman killed at least 18 people and injured dozens more in Maine. “It’s not guns, it’s not the weapons.”
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) issued a terse reply on X.
“It’s actually the fucking weapons,” he wrote.
Other Democratic lawmakers also fired back:
No, it’s the guns. https://t.co/H1a3a1n8Uw
— Congresswoman Chellie Pingree 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 (@chelliepingree) October 27, 2023
Humans have hearts in every nation on Earth. This is the only country that has a mass shooting almost every day. It’s the guns. https://t.co/EnpcA3jI03
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 27, 2023
It’s the guns https://t.co/oH1pBiUgQ2
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@BillPascrell) October 27, 2023
Johnson also said Republicans will defend “the right of the citizens to protect themselves,” presumably by not allowing for any new gun laws. He said House lawmakers are “deeply concerned” about the situation in Maine and that it’s “not the time” to talk about legislation.
His critics on X let him have it:
Partial list of countries that don’t have a problem with the “human heart”: Canada, England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, https://t.co/qBYb5C6Rsn
— Ben Wexler (@mrbenwexler) October 27, 2023
How many rounds can the human heart fire per minute?
— Dennis Mersereau (@wxdam) October 27, 2023
Every country has people with 'bad hearts.' But we're the only developed country where daily massacres are a routine part of life.
It's the guns. But they know that, and they don't care. https://t.co/2OVAbK9wXW
Can't legislate the human heart dumbass but you sure as hell can legislate guns. https://t.co/UwmvkHPVdq
— Andrea R MD (@AndreaR9Md) October 27, 2023
Yeah, the human hearts that are too chickenshit to make red flag laws or mandatory background checks to take guns away from domestic abusers, felons, and people who are actively psychotic. https://t.co/gI5arqdYdu
— Emily Deans MD (@evolutionarypsy) October 27, 2023
The mourners can rest easy knowing the problem is the human heart. https://t.co/HM19xGTbBl
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) October 27, 2023
As a doctor, I can attest that a human heart does NOT commit mass murder.🤬 https://t.co/540LbhiIvp
— Dena Grayson, MD, PhD (@DrDenaGrayson) October 27, 2023
Yes, it keeps stopping when it gets a bullet in it. https://t.co/Af1B51V3P1
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) October 27, 2023
I agree with Johnson. The problem is heart. More specifically, it's lacking the tiny sliver of heart required to choose children's lives and fellow humans over campaign donations. https://t.co/nuiC7eFmtW
— Josh Moon 🇺🇸 (@Josh_Moon) October 27, 2023
Yeah guns often stop the human heart you dumbfuck https://t.co/KNnvAA7BqN
— The Jay Agenda (@JayJurden) October 27, 2023
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.