Politics & Government
Virginia Beach Shooting: Here's How 2020 Dem Candidates Responded
Candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to be president in 2020 issued statements after the deadly mass shooting in Virginia Beach.
Candidates vying for the 2020 Democratic nomination to be president weighed in on Friday's mass shooting in Virginia Beach that killed 12 people, most of whom were city employees. Elected officials serving Virginia and beyond issued statements condemning the violence and many 2020 presidential contenders used the latest instance of mass violence in the country to call for reforms to gun laws.
The Virginia Beach shooter was identified by police as DeWayne Craddock, who worked as an engineer in the city's public utilities department for 15 years. At a press conference on Saturday morning, Police Chief Jim Cervera said he could not give information on a motive.
According to the ATF, the weapons used in the shooting were purchased legally. On Saturday, Cervera said additional weapons were recovered at the scene and from Craddock's home.
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City officials also identified the 12 victims killed in the shooting. And four victims seriously injured in the shooting remain hospitalized.
The shooting is believed to be the worst in the United States this year and the deadliest since a November 2018 shooting at a California bar that also left 12 people dead.
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Here are the public statements issued by the presidential candidates:
Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator from Vermont
Jane and I are grieving for the victims in Virginia Beach and their families. The days of the NRA controlling Congress and writing our gun laws must end. Congress must listen to the American people and pass gun safety legislation. This sickening gun violence must stop. https://t.co/iSAtYWg7HH
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 31, 2019
Joe Biden, former Vice President
11 innocent lives cut down. 11 more futures denied. When will we finally say enough is enough? It’s long past time to hold our leaders accountable. Jill and I are heartbroken that more American families are suffering tonight in Virginia Beach.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 1, 2019
Elizabeth Warren, Democratic Senator from Massachusetts
I’m heartsick and praying for the victims and their loved ones. Eleven people should not have been murdered today. How many lives will it take before Congress acts to end this crisis? https://t.co/SU3oBQRol1
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 31, 2019
Kamala Harris, Democratic Senator from California
Heartbroken for the victims and their families of the Virginia Beach shooting and grateful for the first responders on the scene. This senseless act of violence should not be normal. Too many communities have been shattered by gun violence — we cannot continue to stand idly by. https://t.co/JC4L7glGtE
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 31, 2019
Kirsten Gillibrand, Democratic Senator from New York
I'm heartbroken and furious for the Virginia Beach community, particularly the loved ones of the 11 people murdered today. We can’t keep doing this. https://t.co/S68meHLEWy
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) June 1, 2019
Amy Klobuchar, Democratic Senator from Minnesota
My thoughts are with the Virginia Beach wounded & the families of those who lost loved ones today. We can’t become numb to these tragedies. We must pass gun safety legislation. The vast majority of Americans agree. We just need to get people in Washington who will represent them.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) June 1, 2019
Cory Booker, Democratic Senator from New Jersey
11 people dead. My heart breaks for those killed in another senseless act of gun violence & the loved ones of the victims whose lives are now shattered. We have the power to stop this—we can & will pass commonsense gun safety laws to end these tragedies. https://t.co/twaqJ99l95
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 31, 2019
Michael Bennet, Democratic Senator from Colorado
Another unspeakable act of violence. Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones, the Virginia Beach community, and all those affected by this tragic shooting. https://t.co/uCf5LByufo
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) June 1, 2019
Julián Castro, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Barack Obama
Heartbreaking news out of Virginia Beach as another community copes with a senseless gun violence attack. We can and must pass common sense reforms to end the gun violence epidemic—and ensure no community has to endure the pain that the Virginia Beach community feels today. https://t.co/keFnFAcLed
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) June 1, 2019
Tim Ryan, Democratic Congressman from Ohio
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the Virginia Beach community. It is heartbreaking that mass shootings have become the new normal in this country. We need real gun reform and we need it now.
— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) June 1, 2019
Eric Swalwell, Democratic Congressman from California
As I was with a film crew recording a video on mass shootings we were told another community has suffered a mass shooting. #Virginia, we mourn with you. This can never be normal. It is never too early for us to also say #EnoughIsEnough.
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) May 31, 2019
Ban and buy-back every single assault weapon in America. Background checks on ALL firearms purchases. None of these solutions are beyond our imagination. Let’s prove they’re not beyond our will.
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) June 1, 2019
Seth Moulton, Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts
We can’t keep tweeting without taking action. Tweets won’t stop these shootings. Thoughts and prayers won’t stop them. Legislation will. https://t.co/9lF2i0fqjb
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) June 1, 2019
Beto O'Rourke, Democratic Congressman from Texas
Thinking of the Virginia Beach community, the families forever changed, the lives cut short by gun violence and the inaction in this country to prevent it. I want to work with you to meet this crisis with the urgency it demands and finally end this epidemic.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) June 1, 2019
Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington
Virginia Beach is in my heart tonight. People have said we should not talk about the need to fight gun violence when there are tragedies. I believe that’s exactly when we need to talk about it. This nation needs common sense gun safety laws. pic.twitter.com/7LjxDUg3PH
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) June 1, 2019
John Hickenlooper, former Governor of Colorado
The news out of Virginia Beach is simply devastating. Public servants who just showed up to do their job are not coming home tonight because of gun violence. This story has played out too many times in too many towns. We need to stand up and stop this. #EnoughIsEnough
— John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) May 31, 2019
John Delaney, former Democratic Congressman from Maryland
We can't accept this as normal, we need to take action on gun safety. We can't go on like this.
— John Delaney (@JohnDelaney) June 1, 2019
Steve Bullock, Governor of Montana
Too many lives cut short. This has to stop. I’m holding Virginia Beach in my heart tonight.
— Steve Bullock (@GovernorBullock) May 31, 2019
Wayne Messam, Mayor of Miramar, Florida
My heart cries for the Virginia Beach victims lost and the survivors who must now make sense of this senseless act of gun violence. I’m committed to doing my part to help make this nation a place where these incidents never happen ever. https://t.co/stSuI4fR65
— Wayne Messam (@WayneMessam) June 1, 2019
Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
Another horrific shooting shocks the nation, this time in Virginia Beach. We grieve with those impacted even as we await more information. Already, this much is clear: it is unacceptable for America to remain the only developed country where this is routine. We must act.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) May 31, 2019
Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City
We’re heartbroken. We’re angered. We’re out of patience. It’s within our power to stop these mass murders. Gun control now. https://t.co/lOaK4Bju9Q
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 1, 2019
Marianne Williamson, author
America can either behave responsibly toward our common good, or we can acquiesce to the economic tyranny of gun manufacturers too willing to put profits before the well-being of our citizens. We cannot do both. My statement on today’s horrific shooting: https://t.co/9IsCPBkmO4
— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) June 1, 2019
Andrew Yang, entrepreneur
The shooting in Virginia Beach is a nightmare come to life - a disgruntled employee who massacred innocents. My heart goes out to the families and individuals who were killed and injured. We have to make it harder for people to get and use guns that can cause such tragedies.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) June 1, 2019
Yang's statement continued in a series of tweets you can read on this Twitter page.
Bill Weld, former Republican Governor of Massachusetts, who is challenging President Trump for the GOP nomination in 2020
Leslie & I are heartbroken to learn of the tragedy in Virginia Beach today. Our prayers are with the victims and their families.
— Gov. Bill Weld (@GovBillWeld) June 1, 2019
Patch could not immediately find public statements issued by Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, and Mike Gravel, former Democratic Senator from Alaska.
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