Hillary Clinton on San Bernardino mass shooting: 'I refuse to accept this as normal'
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton called for gun control measures in the aftermath of a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, on Wednesday.
"I refuse to accept this as normal," she wrote in a tweet after a shooting at the Inland Regional Center produced as many as 20 victims, according to the San Bernadino Fire Department. "We must take action to stop gun violence now."
Almost immediately after the shooting, which reportedly occurred at the Inland Regional Center, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) also called the shooting "horrifying" and slammed the National Rifle Association for lobbying against gun-control legislation.
Horrifying news out of #SanBernardino. Enough is enough: it's time to stand up to the @NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws
- Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) December 2, 2015
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) also decried the increasing frequency of mass shootings.
Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop.
- Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 2, 2015
For their part, Republican presidential candidates offered thoughts and prayers for shooting victims and their families.
My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.
- Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) December 2, 2015
Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.
- Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 2, 2015
California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2015
In a statement to CNN in October after a shooting at a community college in Oregon, Clinton expressed exasperation with the frequency of mass shootings across the US.
"It is just beyond my comprehension that we are seeing these mass murders happen again and again and again. And as I have said, we have got to get the political will to do everything we can to keep people safe," Clinton told CNN reporter Dan Merica.
"You know I know there is a way to have sensible gun control measures that help prevent violence, prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands and save lives."
The frequency of mass shootings has risen steadily over the past several years. As the Washington Post notes, there have been 351 mass shootings this year alone.
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