George Takei Demolishes Ted Cruz Over His Message To Victims Of Mass Shooting In Texas
Actor, activist and gay hero George Takei has taken to Twitter to criticise Republican Senator Ted Cruz for his response to a mass shooting in Texas on Saturday, May 06. Cruz expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the wider community affected by the tragedy, but his history of opposing gun control measures prompted a backlash from many on social media.
Thoughts and prayers won’t stop rampant gun violence
On Saturday, May 06, a lone gunman shot and killed eight people in Texas at an outlet mall in Allen outside of Dallas. The gunman is believed to be Mauricio Garcia, a 33-year-old man that expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views on his social media accounts, reports AP.
“Heidi and I are praying for the families of the victims of the horrific mall shooting in Allen, Texas,” Cruz says on Twitter. “We pray also for the broader Collin County community that’s in shock from this tragedy.”
According to Senator Ted Cruz’s website, he has voted against gun control bills introduced by Democrats in the past and has actively said he believes this legislation doesn’t stop violence. “But because of their political agenda, Democrats have sought to disarm law-abiding citizens. This is a mistake, which is why I voted against this misguided attempt and fought for an alternative that would actually save lives,” says Cruz.
The guns used in Saturday’s mass shooting were reportedly purchased legally by Garcia. CNN reports that the weapons were purchased from private sellers, which is legal in Texas and means the suspect, Mauricio Garcia, did not go through a background check.
George Takei did not let that slide
Despite the senator’s message of thoughts and prayers, the well-wishes did not sit well with many who note his active campaign against gun restriction and legislation. Takei, who has been a vocal advocate for gun control measures, was one such figure who did not appreciate the cognitive dissonance. In a tweet, the Star Trek alum called Cruz “worse than useless” and criticised him for his inconsistency on the issue of gun control.
Takei’s criticism of Cruz echoes a growing frustration with the lack of progress on gun control measures in the United States. Saturday’s shooting in Allen, Texas, which left multiple people injured and eight dead, is just the latest in a string of mass shootings that have rocked the country in recent years.
George Takei is certainly vocal about his opinion that the GOP has not done enough to avoid mass shootings in the US. According to USA Today, there have been at least 202 mass shootings in the US this year, leaving 792 victims injured and 276 dead.
The debate over gun control in the United States remains a contentious issue, with advocates on both sides of the issue pushing for their respective viewpoints. However, with each new mass shooting, the call for action becomes increasingly urgent, and politicians like Cruz are likely to face continued scrutiny over their stance on the issue.
