NRA-funded Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) defense of gun rights following two mass shootings in less than a week drew fierce condemnation on Twitter Tuesday.
“Every time there’s a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders,” Cruz told a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
“What happens in this committee after every mass shooting is Democrats propose taking away guns from law-abiding citizens, because that’s their political objective,” he added. “But what they propose, not only does it not reduce crime, it makes it worse.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during gun violence hearing:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 23, 2021
“Every time there’s a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater … Democrats propose taking away guns from law-abiding citizens … it makes it worse.” pic.twitter.com/yXUHsiOPhq
Critics pointed out two elements of Cruz’s pushback on gun law reform that appeared to neutralize his argument ― namely when he said “every time there’s a shooting” and “after every mass shooting.”
According to CNN, there have been seven mass shootings in the United States in the last week, including highly publicized mass murders — Tuesday’s attack on Atlanta-area massage parlors that left eight people dead, and the killing of 10 people Monday at a Kings Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.
When your monologue needs to start with the phrase “every time there’s a shooting...” you should probably recognise the seriousness and scale of the problem. https://t.co/hZuWJ8qzin
— Matt Timblin (@matt_timblin) March 23, 2021
Those mutton chops are ridiculous theater.
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) March 23, 2021
Gun violence is the leading cause of premature death in the U.S. killing at least 38,000 people a year & injuring 85,000.
We need gun reform NOW. https://t.co/ByX4mYYIoB
Perhaps we shouldn't be taking public safety advice from a senator who helped incite a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. https://t.co/iqmwvzDAog
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) March 23, 2021
Every time there's a shooting
— Jon Spaihts (@jonspaihts) March 24, 2021
Every time There's a shooting
Every time
There's a shooting every time https://t.co/qPqm7YFlng
Did you say “every time there’s a shooting”?!! Is that really how you want to start your defense of guns?!! You being so tone deaf and uttering “every time” says more about the subject matter than anything you said afterwards! @tedcruz @SenTedCruz is a national embarrassment! https://t.co/BcYePtPWkT
— Brian Fitzgerald (@TheThingRadio) March 23, 2021
"how DARE people make mass shootings about guns?!" -ted cruz https://t.co/QLFTb6agBl
— Kelli Boyle (@kellixboyle) March 24, 2021
After sixteen people were killed in a hot air balloon in Lockhart, Texas, Ted Cruz authored and passed federal legislation improving safety rules.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 23, 2021
I guess that's not because laws don't work, but because there's no hot air balloon lobby funding his Senate seat. #txlege https://t.co/X4N8k24YnE
Can we ship Ted Cruz to Cancun permanently and call it a fucking day.
— Amy Lynn ✡️🍭🌊 (@AmyAThatcher) March 23, 2021
We have two countries, one that mourns the shootings and one that uses them to go on Fox News and fundraise thru 2A lies and racist fear mongering like Ted Cruz just did. One that wears masks and vaccinates and one that cries freedom, while making ignorance a rallying cry.
— NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) March 24, 2021
Ted Cruz spent a week outraged about Dr Seuss but shrugs off the murder of 10 innocent bystanders.
— Mark Gray (@rich29uk) March 23, 2021
GOP priorities ...
Ted Cruz: "I don't apologize for thoughts or prayers" for shooting victims
— LA From GA Resists 🌊🌎💙 (@LALewman) March 23, 2021
Shove your worthless thoughts and prayers up your ass Ted!#GunReformNow #RepublicansAreKillingUs pic.twitter.com/9LWaHw6bY3
Ted Cruz’ rant that “Democrats hate prayer” because we want more than thoughts & prayers after mass shootings is as close as I’ve ever come to punching my television.
— Bryan Behar (@bryanbehar) March 24, 2021
Ted Cruz will go down as one of, if not *the* most worthless, self-serving, unnecessarily partisan politicians of all time. He is truly as despicable as they come, seemingly tripping over himself to do or say the worst thing imaginable at any given turn. https://t.co/Qs0JYgzvJG
— Bro Salah (@andrewtothemoon) March 24, 2021
For those keeping score:
— Emily Brandwin (@CIAspygirl) March 24, 2021
Ted Cruz will defend: Insurrectionists, Assault Weapons, Canned Goods
Ted Cruz will not defend or will throw under the bus: Democracy, His Wife, His kids https://t.co/UprgZIhFwr
Just a genuinely bad human being. https://t.co/2kpEDlHQYy
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) March 24, 2021
“Every time there’s a shooting” is definitely a phrase to start your defense of guns https://t.co/qS9jDtIpjJ
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) March 23, 2021
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