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What Florida’s politicians are saying about Jacksonville mass shooting

Some Democrats are calling for action. Thoughts and prayers, plus a Trump phone call, from GOP.
Jacksonville Landing [Tampa Bay Times]
Jacksonville Landing [Tampa Bay Times]
By
Published Aug. 26, 2018|Updated Aug. 26, 2018

Coming two days before the primary, the reaction to Sunday's shooting in Jacksonville is a good illustration of what distinguishes Republicans and Democrats these days.

The leading contenders for the Democratic nomination for governor tweeted out statements demanding action.

Republicans Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis? Not much.

Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for the U.S. Senate, spoke with President Donald Trump about the shooting, as well as Jacksonville's mayor and law enforcement.

Here are the responses so far:

King announced Sunday night that he would hold a Monday news conference at noon outside Jacksonville City Hall to discuss guns with "local gun violence activists, faith leaders, Floridians."

Gillum later expanded on his earlier tweet:

STATEMENT: Gillum Condemns "Gun Violence Epidemic" After Jax Shooting

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum released the following statement today:

"This gun violence epidemic must stop, and we simply cannot let this become the new normal. Too many lives are being snuffed out far too soon in everyday places like our high school football games, movie theaters, shopping malls, and public schools. As long as we let this absurd status quo continue, in which the gun lobby controls our elected officials, this bloodshed will continue. I will lift the victims' families up in prayer tonight, and as our next Governor, I will do everything in my power to finally pass the common sense gun safety laws we so badly need in the Sunshine State."

Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine issued a statement:

Mayor Philip Levine on Jacksonville Mass Shooting

Miami, FL – Following the mass shooting in Jacksonville today, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine offers the following:

"I am horrified and I am furious. The shootings are too many to count—in our schools, neighborhoods and nightclubs. Our thoughts are with the victims, but we should all be outraged. Too many lives are destroyed, while leaders take no action. It's time for new leaders."

Levine later added this on Twitter:

Of the five Democrats running for governor, Jeff Greene was the last to weigh in:

Tampa Rep. Sean Shaw, the Democratic front-runner for Attorney General, opted to go with the "thoughts and prayers" approach usually favored by Republicans.

Shaw later expanded on that:

His maybe Democratic opponent, Ryan Torrens, hadn't tweeted anything in response to the shooting by 4 p.m.

Nikki Fried, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for Commissioner of Agriculture, tweeted this shortly after 4 p.m.

Tampa Democratic Mayor Bob Buckhorn piggy-backed on Graham's tweet:

At about 3:40, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson responded:

About two hours later, he added:

The Florida Democratic Party issued this tweet Sunday night:

From Republicans:

Adam Putnam retweeted this alert  with no comment:

He then retweeted Gov. Rick Scott's official, non-campaign account without comment:

More than an hour later, Putnam addressed the shooting himself with…prayers:

Later, after 6 p.m., Putnam tweeted this:

DeSantis, by 6 p.m., hadn't addressed the shooting on Twitter.

According to the Associated Press, DeSantis cancelled an upcoming campaign event because of the shooting. DeSantis, like Putnam, offered no promise of action, but did offer "thoughts and prayers."

Then, minutes after 6 p.m., DeSantis' congressional twitter account addressed the shooting. He thanked first responders and Scott without mentioning the victims or any action to address future shootings:

Meanwhile, Scott's official calendar showed some quick briefings with law enforcement and Lenny Curry, Jacksonville's Republican mayor:

2:29pm CALL WITH JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF MIKE WILLIAMS REGARDING SHOOTING AT JACKSONVILLE LANDING

2:40pm CALL WITH FDLE COMMISSIONER RICK SWEARINGEN REGARDING SHOOTING AT JACKSONVILLE LANDING

3:15pm CALL WITH JACKSONVILLE MAYOR LENNY CURRY REGARDING SHOOTING AT JACKSONVILLE LANDING

4:35pm CALL WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP REGARDING SHOOTING AT JACKSONVILLE LANDING

At 5:30 p.m., Scott's office said the governor, who earlier had tweeted he was spending the day with his grandchildren, was leaving Naples for Jacksonville.

The statement said he would be briefed by law enforcement and would offer any state resources that are necessary. Trump, the statement said, offered "any federal resources needed."

Here's Curry's statement on Twitter:

Shortly before 3 p.m., U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted this:

And a follow-up:

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi offered this:

Rep. Frank White, R-Pensacola, a big supporter for unfettered gun rights who is running for the GOP nomination for attorney general, tweeted this out:

His GOP opponent, Ashley Moody of Tampa, had no mention of the shooting on her Twitter feed until shortly before 6 p.m. This one showed gratitude to first responders.

Down ballot, there were some notable tweets.

Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, who is hoping to beat Republican Sen. Dana Young in one of the tightest legislative races in November, tweeted:

Young, in the same approach as Putnam, addressed the tragedy on Twitter by retweeting an alert:

Moments later, Young addressed the tragedy directly:

xxxxx

Up next:Can you pass the Adam Putnam quiz?

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