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Student Kelsey Friend, becomes emotional while recounting her story about Wednesday's mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Behind Many #ThoughtsandPrayers for Gun Massacre Victims, Millions in NRA Cash
Late night writer took to Twitter to highlight the gun lobbying group's massive contributions to GOP candidates and members of Congress
Feb 15, 2018
After at least 17 people were killed at a Florida high school Wednesday in a mass shooting that's being called "worse than Columbine," a late night television writer took to social media to highlight the National Rifle Association's contributions to politicians who defaulted to the "thoughts and prayers" response that's become standard following such massacres.
"This is not a political issue... This is a pandemic that's killing children. And it's perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of 'life' but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby."
--Bess Kalb, writer
As first noted by Ed Mazza at The Huffington Post, Bess Kalb, a writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live, responded directly to condolence tweets from members of Congress by pointing out the amount of money each federal lawmaker has taken from the NRA--which has shamelessly advocated for less restrictive laws on firearms in the wake of gun-related tragedies.
"This is not a political issue. This is not a constitutional debate. This is a pandemic that's killing children. And it's perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of 'life' but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby," Kalb said in a tweet.
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.):
\u201cI am heartbroken for the students & family of those involved in this horrible tragedy & I'm praying for our first responders as they act swiftly to contain the situation. https://t.co/rCn5lFYhHP\u201d— Cory Gardner (@Cory Gardner) 1518642531
\u201c$3,879,064.00 https://t.co/QXhmuQKTpF\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651028
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):
\u201cJust spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.\u201d— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1518644054
\u201c@michele5411 @marcorubio @AlexNBCNews $3,303,355\u201d— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1518644054
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio):
\u201cHeartbreaking news out of Florida. Jane and I send our prayers to the school, the community, and the victims of this tragedy.\u201d— Rob Portman (@Rob Portman) 1518644099
\u201c$3,061,941.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans buy guns. https://t.co/rXKbCaDHLf\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651082
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.):
\u201cI'm devastated to hear about the tragedy in Florida. Praying today for the students and all those impacted.\u201d— Rep. Ken Buck (@Rep. Ken Buck) 1518644437
\u201c$800,544 from the NRA. https://t.co/ZfrdCCc0jB\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651494
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.):
\u201cPraying for the students, teachers and first responders affected by the tragic shooting in Florida. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.\u201d— Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@Bill Cassidy, M.D.) 1518645502
\u201c$2,861,047.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans keep buying guns. https://t.co/3OZay5yRZs\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651183
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa):
\u201cPlease join me in praying for the students, faculty, and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as their loved ones. Let us also show our gratitude to the courageous first responders.\u201d— Joni Ernst (@Joni Ernst) 1518645803
\u201c$3,124,273 from the NRA. https://t.co/mgEnOsC03p\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518656903
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.):
\u201cTragic news out of Florida. Please keep the victims, their families, first responders and the community in your thoughts and prayers.\u201d— Senator Thom Tillis (@Senator Thom Tillis) 1518646781
\u201c$4,418,012.00\nFour million four hundred eighteen thousand and twelve dollars from the NRA. https://t.co/kPZQIPTg42\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651340
Kalb also responded directly to Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel by noting that the party's candidates took a whopping $17,385,437 from the NRA during the 2015-2016 election cycle--which doesn't even account for the millions given to President Donald Trump during his run.
\u201cMy heart breaks for all the families, teachers, and students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Praying for all affected by the tragic shooting in Florida today.\u201d— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel) 1518644527
\u201cThis is NOT counting the $21 million given to President Trump.\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518652003
Kalb pointed to a list of politicians who have taken large sums money from the NRA, which was compiled last October by the New York Times a few days after a mass shooting in Las Vegas became the deadliest in U.S. history.
\u201cGod have mercy on your NRA-kept souls:\n\nRichard Burr\n$6,986,620 \n\nRoy Blunt\n$4,551,146\n\nThom Tillis\n$4,418,012\n\nCory Gardner\n$3,879,064\n\nMarco Rubio\n$3,303,355\n\nJoni Ernst\n$3,124,273\n\nRob Portman\n$3,061,941\n\nTodd Young\n$2,896,732\n\nBill Cassidy\n$2,861,047\nhttps://t.co/y9US2i6CPD\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518644650
\u201cAnd Senator John McCain, who beat everyone by almost a million dollars, at $7,740,521.\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518644114
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After at least 17 people were killed at a Florida high school Wednesday in a mass shooting that's being called "worse than Columbine," a late night television writer took to social media to highlight the National Rifle Association's contributions to politicians who defaulted to the "thoughts and prayers" response that's become standard following such massacres.
"This is not a political issue... This is a pandemic that's killing children. And it's perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of 'life' but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby."
--Bess Kalb, writer
As first noted by Ed Mazza at The Huffington Post, Bess Kalb, a writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live, responded directly to condolence tweets from members of Congress by pointing out the amount of money each federal lawmaker has taken from the NRA--which has shamelessly advocated for less restrictive laws on firearms in the wake of gun-related tragedies.
"This is not a political issue. This is not a constitutional debate. This is a pandemic that's killing children. And it's perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of 'life' but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby," Kalb said in a tweet.
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.):
\u201cI am heartbroken for the students & family of those involved in this horrible tragedy & I'm praying for our first responders as they act swiftly to contain the situation. https://t.co/rCn5lFYhHP\u201d— Cory Gardner (@Cory Gardner) 1518642531
\u201c$3,879,064.00 https://t.co/QXhmuQKTpF\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651028
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):
\u201cJust spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.\u201d— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1518644054
\u201c@michele5411 @marcorubio @AlexNBCNews $3,303,355\u201d— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1518644054
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio):
\u201cHeartbreaking news out of Florida. Jane and I send our prayers to the school, the community, and the victims of this tragedy.\u201d— Rob Portman (@Rob Portman) 1518644099
\u201c$3,061,941.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans buy guns. https://t.co/rXKbCaDHLf\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651082
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.):
\u201cI'm devastated to hear about the tragedy in Florida. Praying today for the students and all those impacted.\u201d— Rep. Ken Buck (@Rep. Ken Buck) 1518644437
\u201c$800,544 from the NRA. https://t.co/ZfrdCCc0jB\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651494
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.):
\u201cPraying for the students, teachers and first responders affected by the tragic shooting in Florida. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.\u201d— Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@Bill Cassidy, M.D.) 1518645502
\u201c$2,861,047.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans keep buying guns. https://t.co/3OZay5yRZs\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651183
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa):
\u201cPlease join me in praying for the students, faculty, and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as their loved ones. Let us also show our gratitude to the courageous first responders.\u201d— Joni Ernst (@Joni Ernst) 1518645803
\u201c$3,124,273 from the NRA. https://t.co/mgEnOsC03p\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518656903
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.):
\u201cTragic news out of Florida. Please keep the victims, their families, first responders and the community in your thoughts and prayers.\u201d— Senator Thom Tillis (@Senator Thom Tillis) 1518646781
\u201c$4,418,012.00\nFour million four hundred eighteen thousand and twelve dollars from the NRA. https://t.co/kPZQIPTg42\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651340
Kalb also responded directly to Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel by noting that the party's candidates took a whopping $17,385,437 from the NRA during the 2015-2016 election cycle--which doesn't even account for the millions given to President Donald Trump during his run.
\u201cMy heart breaks for all the families, teachers, and students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Praying for all affected by the tragic shooting in Florida today.\u201d— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel) 1518644527
\u201cThis is NOT counting the $21 million given to President Trump.\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518652003
Kalb pointed to a list of politicians who have taken large sums money from the NRA, which was compiled last October by the New York Times a few days after a mass shooting in Las Vegas became the deadliest in U.S. history.
\u201cGod have mercy on your NRA-kept souls:\n\nRichard Burr\n$6,986,620 \n\nRoy Blunt\n$4,551,146\n\nThom Tillis\n$4,418,012\n\nCory Gardner\n$3,879,064\n\nMarco Rubio\n$3,303,355\n\nJoni Ernst\n$3,124,273\n\nRob Portman\n$3,061,941\n\nTodd Young\n$2,896,732\n\nBill Cassidy\n$2,861,047\nhttps://t.co/y9US2i6CPD\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518644650
\u201cAnd Senator John McCain, who beat everyone by almost a million dollars, at $7,740,521.\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518644114
After at least 17 people were killed at a Florida high school Wednesday in a mass shooting that's being called "worse than Columbine," a late night television writer took to social media to highlight the National Rifle Association's contributions to politicians who defaulted to the "thoughts and prayers" response that's become standard following such massacres.
"This is not a political issue... This is a pandemic that's killing children. And it's perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of 'life' but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby."
--Bess Kalb, writer
As first noted by Ed Mazza at The Huffington Post, Bess Kalb, a writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live, responded directly to condolence tweets from members of Congress by pointing out the amount of money each federal lawmaker has taken from the NRA--which has shamelessly advocated for less restrictive laws on firearms in the wake of gun-related tragedies.
"This is not a political issue. This is not a constitutional debate. This is a pandemic that's killing children. And it's perpetrated by hypocrites who preach a doctrine of 'life' but take money from a profit-driven gun lobby," Kalb said in a tweet.
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.):
\u201cI am heartbroken for the students & family of those involved in this horrible tragedy & I'm praying for our first responders as they act swiftly to contain the situation. https://t.co/rCn5lFYhHP\u201d— Cory Gardner (@Cory Gardner) 1518642531
\u201c$3,879,064.00 https://t.co/QXhmuQKTpF\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651028
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):
\u201cJust spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.\u201d— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1518644054
\u201c@michele5411 @marcorubio @AlexNBCNews $3,303,355\u201d— Marco Rubio (@Marco Rubio) 1518644054
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio):
\u201cHeartbreaking news out of Florida. Jane and I send our prayers to the school, the community, and the victims of this tragedy.\u201d— Rob Portman (@Rob Portman) 1518644099
\u201c$3,061,941.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans buy guns. https://t.co/rXKbCaDHLf\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651082
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.):
\u201cI'm devastated to hear about the tragedy in Florida. Praying today for the students and all those impacted.\u201d— Rep. Ken Buck (@Rep. Ken Buck) 1518644437
\u201c$800,544 from the NRA. https://t.co/ZfrdCCc0jB\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651494
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.):
\u201cPraying for the students, teachers and first responders affected by the tragic shooting in Florida. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.\u201d— Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@Bill Cassidy, M.D.) 1518645502
\u201c$2,861,047.00 from the NRA to make sure Americans keep buying guns. https://t.co/3OZay5yRZs\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651183
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa):
\u201cPlease join me in praying for the students, faculty, and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as their loved ones. Let us also show our gratitude to the courageous first responders.\u201d— Joni Ernst (@Joni Ernst) 1518645803
\u201c$3,124,273 from the NRA. https://t.co/mgEnOsC03p\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518656903
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.):
\u201cTragic news out of Florida. Please keep the victims, their families, first responders and the community in your thoughts and prayers.\u201d— Senator Thom Tillis (@Senator Thom Tillis) 1518646781
\u201c$4,418,012.00\nFour million four hundred eighteen thousand and twelve dollars from the NRA. https://t.co/kPZQIPTg42\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518651340
Kalb also responded directly to Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel by noting that the party's candidates took a whopping $17,385,437 from the NRA during the 2015-2016 election cycle--which doesn't even account for the millions given to President Donald Trump during his run.
\u201cMy heart breaks for all the families, teachers, and students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Praying for all affected by the tragic shooting in Florida today.\u201d— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel) 1518644527
\u201cThis is NOT counting the $21 million given to President Trump.\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518652003
Kalb pointed to a list of politicians who have taken large sums money from the NRA, which was compiled last October by the New York Times a few days after a mass shooting in Las Vegas became the deadliest in U.S. history.
\u201cGod have mercy on your NRA-kept souls:\n\nRichard Burr\n$6,986,620 \n\nRoy Blunt\n$4,551,146\n\nThom Tillis\n$4,418,012\n\nCory Gardner\n$3,879,064\n\nMarco Rubio\n$3,303,355\n\nJoni Ernst\n$3,124,273\n\nRob Portman\n$3,061,941\n\nTodd Young\n$2,896,732\n\nBill Cassidy\n$2,861,047\nhttps://t.co/y9US2i6CPD\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518644650
\u201cAnd Senator John McCain, who beat everyone by almost a million dollars, at $7,740,521.\u201d— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518644114
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