‘My God’: South Carolinians react to school shooting in wake of Townville, Charleston
An expelled student used an assault rifle to opened fire at a Florida high school Wednesday, killing 17.
As doctors tend to the injured, families prepare to bury their dead and law enforcement investigates the shooting, people around the world are reacting to the tragedy.
In a sad twist, in the Palmetto State there is a hearing whether a teenager will be tried as an adult in a South Carolina school shooting at Townville Elementary School in September 2016.
Some of the most prominent people with connections to South Carolina took to social media to share their thoughts in the aftermath of the horrific scene at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Politicians from Gov. Henry McMaster and Steve Benjamin, as did South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley and Gamecocks linebacker Skai Moore and even Craig Melvin, who is in South Korea covering the Winter Olympics.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson also commented on the terrible shooting, as did some of the surviving family members of those killed in the mass shooting at Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church.
Here are some of their reactions:
Any act of violence shakes us to our core, but it's particularly gut-wrenching when it is perpetrated against innocent young people. Peggy and I ask you to join us in praying for comfort and justice for everyone affected by this despicable act of evil.
— Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) February 14, 2018
Our hearts are with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the students, families, teachers and administrators. Thankful for our first responders.
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) February 14, 2018
Our prayers are with the families in Florida. It is painful to imagine what they are going through. May God wrap his arms around the Parkland community.
— Catherine Templeton for Governor (@TempletonCath) February 15, 2018
Roxanne and I are deeply saddened by the news of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. Words will never be enough for the families affected by today’s tragedy.
— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) February 14, 2018
This kind of violence is horrific and has no place in this world. I am grateful for the brave first responders who provided critical aid and prevented further casualties.
— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) February 14, 2018
When is enough actually enough America?!?! https://t.co/0jDrG8QM1m
— Steve Benjamin (@SteveBenjaminSC) February 15, 2018
Prayers up for everyone at Douglas high... smh strange world we live in
— Skai Moore (@SkaiMoore_10) February 15, 2018
I’ll never give in to numbness when senseless acts on innocent children and adults keep occurring in our country. It has been long overdue to ACT. Praying for all of Florida victims and families. Sadly I pray in advance for future fatal instances.
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) February 15, 2018
Unthinkable and unimaginable shootings continue to happen...
— Chris Singleton (@csingleton__2) February 15, 2018
The reason why I speak and tell my story is to stop stuff like this from happening, so when it happens it makes me feel as though nothing is changing in the world.
In order to see change, we have to make change.
pic.twitter.com/TCBop25OJt
Am in South Korea, but my heart is with the sad, grieving, and angry in Florida. So terrible mass shootings have become one of the hallmarks of our great country. May God comfort those families. May we decide to do something.
— Craig Melvin (@craigmelvin) February 15, 2018
My God. #StopTheViolence https://t.co/xINASxlKuu
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) February 14, 2018
Our children who are trained by the culture to glorify guns and killing, kill. The outcome is painfully predictable. Condolences and prayers for the families and our country. https://t.co/Laa6sHav38
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) February 14, 2018
Today we add yet another city to the growing list of of cities impacted by mass shootings. When will we have the courage as a nation to address this issue and military style weapons that are part of the equation. #Parkland https://t.co/y6JtuLbxKG
— Malcolm Graham (@SenatorMGraham) February 15, 2018
Such a terrible tragedy in Parkland, Florida today. Our prayers are with the victims and their families. As a parent, I can't fathom what so many are going through today.
— Alan Wilson (@AGAlanWilson) February 14, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families in Parkland, Florida. Thankful for our brave first responders. #PrayersForFlorida
— Ralph Norman (@RepRalphNorman) February 14, 2018
Wish we could wrap our arms around our brothers & sisters and pray, cry & scream. But, faith (& prayer) w/out works is dead. We need to ACT to get these guns off the streets...NOW! NBC News: 17 killed in shooting at Florida high school, authorities say https://t.co/lehqZuMN2N
— Mia McLeod (@MiaforSC) February 15, 2018
Something must be done about guns. Now. And there can be no excuses.
— Phil Noble (@PhilNobleSC) February 14, 2018
Please pray for the students and family members from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fl who suffered a tragic school shooting. Mental Illness needs to be addressed and taken seriously in the US.
— Katrina Shealy (@KatrinaShealy) February 14, 2018
I have a CWP I believe in common sense gun ownership etc. Why not universal background checks? Why do we have bump stocks and AR’s? https://t.co/dKmRIdcadV
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) February 15, 2018
Our prayers are with those injured and their families affected by the South Florida school shooting. https://t.co/nv5aB3YOoe
— RCSD (@RCSD) February 14, 2018
Eyewitness to Florida high school shooting tells @gstephanopoulos she had to run to a nearby Walmart for safety, adding: "I heard two pops, and that's when I started running." https://t.co/BuEAqG21or pic.twitter.com/llmDP6Q5mK
— ABC News (@ABC) February 14, 2018
This story was originally published February 14, 2018 at 10:01 PM with the headline "‘My God’: South Carolinians react to school shooting in wake of Townville, Charleston."