Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sparked the ire of the internet after blaming mental illness for the mass shooting in a Texas school on Tuesday.
During his speech, McConnell didn’t offer any solutions to the increasing gun violence in the country, and instead blamed the shooter, whom he described as a “deranged young man” and “maniac,” echoing the views of many Republicans that mental illness is the root cause of many of these recurring tragedies.
The Republican leader didn’t make any mention of the 18-year-old shooter’s easy access to high-powered weapons or any possible preventative legislative measures.
McConnell said it is “literally sickening to think of the innocent young lives stolen” and then proceeded to offer thoughts and prayers for those affected.
His remarks were met with disdain from social media users who put the blame on McConnell for the massacre.
See some of the reactions below:
Those children are dead because of you and your fellow Republicans. The NRA's blood money means more to you than the lives of our children.
— 🌺🎀Olivia 🌸⚘ (@OliverSays2) May 25, 2022
Was that the same speech he used almost 10 years ago on the Sandy Hook massacre?
— Coop (@ldcooperg1) May 25, 2022
This guy is literally the devil and it's wrong to do anything against him.
So this is hell.
— HollowedFates (@HollowedFates) May 25, 2022
Keep. Those kids’ names. Out. Your FUCKING. Mouth.
— Just Joseph (@planetJoseph) May 25, 2022
What a piece of crap he is
— Angie (@Angie44392545) May 25, 2022
McConnell blames ‘maniac’ for shooting. But, with fellow Republicans continues to make it easy for a maniac to carry an assault
weapon.— JustMe (@Debora46882624) May 25, 2022
Reflecting Republican cowardice perfectly, McConnell blames the “maniac” for yesterday’s murder of 21 people with an AR15.
He offers no solutions, takes no responsibility, offers useless thoughts and prayers.
He is morally bankrupt and a scourge on society.#Uvalde#FreshWords
— Southern Sister Resister – Wordsmith #IAmTheStorm (@ResisterSis20) May 25, 2022
He and the gun lobby wants us to believe there is no solution except more guns everywhere.
— Michael Owens (@MikeOwensArt) May 25, 2022
The sickest ones are McConnell and his colleagues who continue to do nothing.
— Stu Nicholson (@Footestu1) May 25, 2022
He's drowning in that bloody NRA money fam.
— Samuel R. Bell (@SamuelRBell1) May 25, 2022
Another Who Will Not Talk About GUNS!AND THE NRA! AND THE SUCKUP TO THEM FOR MANY POLITICAL REASONS. SHAME ON HIM AND ALL NO MATTER PARTY AFFILIATIONS. POLITICAL COWARDS IN MY OPINION. TERM LIMITS! AGE LIMIT 75!
— Richard A YoungJr (@youngjr_a) May 25, 2022
Republicans are a cult dedicated to sacrificing children to the NRA.
— Miko Pike (@Miko_Pike) May 25, 2022
Mitch McConnell said "because of this maniac, at least 19 of these kids never made it home."
You could not have described yourself more perfectly Mitch.— Gerald Montag (@GeraldInPDX) May 25, 2022
