Sen. Ted Cruz’s offer Tuesday to fervently pray for the victims of yet another horrific mass shooting in his state of Texas was not well received.
The Republican lawmaker, who is among the top recipients of campaign contributions from gun lobbyists, said Tuesday that he and his wife were “fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde” after at least 19 children and two adults were killed by a lone gunman at Robb Elementary School.
Ted Cruz on X (formerly Twitter): “Heidi & I are fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde.We are in close contact with local officials, but the precise details are still unfolding.Thank you to heroic law enforcement & first responders for acting so swiftly. / X”
Heidi & I are fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde.We are in close contact with local officials, but the precise details are still unfolding.Thank you to heroic law enforcement & first responders for acting so swiftly.
No matter how many mass shootings afflict the nation, Cruz has long opposed efforts to enact gun control measures. Even after Tuesday’s massacre, he told reporters he did not believe gun law reforms were the solution and called it an effort to “restrict the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.”
It’s the same playbook he uses after most mass shootings. Last year, after multiple people were killed in Boulder, Colorado, and in Atlanta, Georgia, Cruz accused Democrats of “ridiculous theater” because they called for gun control measures, such as universal background checks, as a response.
The House has passed legislation that would mandate universal background checks for gun purchases, a measure that polling shows 90% of Americans support. The bill has stalled because of Republican resistance in the Senate.
On Tuesday, prayers aside, Cruz proposed adding more armed law enforcement officers to school campuses.
Texas is one of the nation’s top three states with the most mass shootings over the past 20 years.
Instead of tightening gun laws, the state has relaxed them in recent years. It has some of the loosest regulations in the country.
Cruz is slated to speak at a National Rifle Association conference in Houston on Friday, along with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, former President Donald Trump and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
In the 2018 election cycle, Cruz received more than $300,000 from gun rights supporters, making him the top recipient in Congress in that period, according to Open Secrets.
His reaction Tuesday was widely condemned, including by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who noted his upcoming speaking gig.
“You can do more than pray. Faith without works is dead,” she tweeted.
Other reactions have been compiled below.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on X (formerly Twitter): “Aren’t you slated to headline a speaking gig for the NRA in three days – in Houston, no less?You can do more than pray. Faith without works is dead. https://t.co/NMX64KljhL / X”
Aren’t you slated to headline a speaking gig for the NRA in three days – in Houston, no less?You can do more than pray. Faith without works is dead. https://t.co/NMX64KljhL
Kurt Bardella on X (formerly Twitter): “Ted Cruz received $300k from the pro-gun crowd so take your prayers and shove them up your ass. Your acceptance of this blood money tells us how much your prayers are worth. https://t.co/MMxQMwtAEv / X”
Ted Cruz received $300k from the pro-gun crowd so take your prayers and shove them up your ass. Your acceptance of this blood money tells us how much your prayers are worth. https://t.co/MMxQMwtAEv
Qasim Rashid, Esq. on X (formerly Twitter): “Here are some precise details we know for a fact:*The terrorist was 18. In 2021 Texas lowered the age to carry a handgun to 18.*Though 92% of Americans support universal background checks, GOP has consistently opposed any gun reform laws.*GOP is funded & bought by the NRA. https://t.co/gDLBM9Mnc9 / X”
Here are some precise details we know for a fact:*The terrorist was 18. In 2021 Texas lowered the age to carry a handgun to 18.*Though 92% of Americans support universal background checks, GOP has consistently opposed any gun reform laws.*GOP is funded & bought by the NRA. https://t.co/gDLBM9Mnc9
Lindy Li on X (formerly Twitter): “.@tedcruz please – and I mean this sincerely – shut the fuck upTake your fake thoughts and empty prayers and shove itYou are an NRA shill. There is a river of blood dripping from your hands https://t.co/y99mhkEJWH / X”
@tedcruz please – and I mean this sincerely – shut the fuck upTake your fake thoughts and empty prayers and shove itYou are an NRA shill. There is a river of blood dripping from your hands https://t.co/y99mhkEJWH
Jon Sopel on X (formerly Twitter): “And you have called attempts to repeal gun laws ‘ridiculous theatre’ from Democrats. Isn’t the ‘ridiculous theatre’ a tweet like this, which offers prayers as though that is all that can be done to deal with this crisis? https://t.co/KG97zIhQVo / X”
And you have called attempts to repeal gun laws ‘ridiculous theatre’ from Democrats. Isn’t the ‘ridiculous theatre’ a tweet like this, which offers prayers as though that is all that can be done to deal with this crisis? https://t.co/KG97zIhQVo
Elizabeth Williamson on X (formerly Twitter): “This United States senator made a Sandy Hook father wait for hours to testify about harassment after the murder of his daughter, then mispronounced the child’s name. Deeds not words https://t.co/KqSowNt7wr / X”
This United States senator made a Sandy Hook father wait for hours to testify about harassment after the murder of his daughter, then mispronounced the child’s name. Deeds not words https://t.co/KqSowNt7wr
Matt Oswalt on X (formerly Twitter): “you should open with this when you speak at the NRA rally in Houston later this week you spineless piece of shit https://t.co/CwasHe8DhQ / X”
you should open with this when you speak at the NRA rally in Houston later this week you spineless piece of shit https://t.co/CwasHe8DhQ
