Former Rare Staff
Wednesday, Feb. 14 marked a tragic day for America, and, in particular, the community of Parkland, Florida, which lost 17 people when a gunman opened fire on students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at about 2:40 p.m. local time.
Videos by Rare
Police took the 19-year-old suspect Nikolas Cruz — who was expelled from the school for disciplinary problems — into custody shortly after the shooting.
As reports were still coming in about the extent of the losses, comedian Chelsea Handler took to Twitter to direct blame at the GOP, claiming that “Republicans” have blood on their hands.
“We have to elect candidates that are not funded by the NRA in November,” she wrote. “We have an opportunity to elect candidates who won’t allow kids to go to school and get shot. It is disgusting how many times this has happened and Republicans do nothing. You all have blood on your hands.”
We have to elect candidates that are not funded by the NRA in November. We have an opportunity to elect candidates who won’t allow kids to go to school and get shot. It is disgusting how many times this has happened and Republicans do nothing. You all have blood on your hands.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) February 14, 2018
But her ramblings didn’t end there.
On Thursday afternoon, Handler directed her fury at President Trump after he tweeted that there were “so many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed.”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/964110212885106689
“We will always have mentally disturbed people, especially now that one sits in the Oval Office,” Handler fired back in a quote-tweet. “Better not to have guns for them to use, since you are also cutting funds for the mentally disabled. Do something decent while you are in office,” she added. “Anything.”
We will always have mentally disturbed people, especially now that one sits in the Oval Office. Better not to have guns for them to use, since you are also cutting funds for the mentally disabled. Do something decent while you are in office. Anything. https://t.co/AVDe3HmvyF
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) February 15, 2018
While some may see Handler as justifiably angry, many people on Twitter think she crossed a line.
Chelsea, you should refocus your activism on pet adoption or something
— Brian Flood (@briansflood) February 15, 2018
You are fighting a wrong battle and need to find a different hobby Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/GqEBePqAUO
— Dave Combs (@DaveCombs72) February 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/THEHEATHERWOODS/status/964216474754789376
Sometime later, Handler followed up on her comments with another tweet about mental health.
Mental health issues. You know who is going to have mental health issues? Every person who witnesses a massacre and relentless gunfire. Every child who sees other children murdered in a fucking classroom. Every teacher. Every parent. #GunReformNow
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) February 15, 2018
President Trump’s tenure has been marred by the mass shootings that have taken place while he’s been in office. Three of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history have occurred since Trump has been in office. The deadliest killing occurred last October in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Stephen Paddock killed 58 people. Only a month later, in November, 26 people were killed in a church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
