In the wake of the Umpqua Community College mass shooting, the 15th such tragedy President Barack Obama has addressed during his tenure, Twitter users responded to the commander-in-chief's call for tougher gun control laws.
Within hours of the tragedy, users took to Twitter to call for the politicization of mass shootings to support stricter gun control laws. They tweeted variations of the phrase "If I ever die in a mass shooting," claiming that they would want meaningful action, not apologies, should they ever become victims of gun violence.
If I ever die in a mass shooting, don’t talk to God for me. Lord willing, I’ll be doing that myself. Do something. http://t.co/x2uhhvF3vs— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) October 2, 2015
If I ever die in a mass shooting, please politicize my death.— Damion Schubert (@ZenOfDesign) October 2, 2015
If I'm ever killed in a mass shooting, don't send any thoughts and prayers; I want you to politicize the hell out of it. #UCCShooting— AllYouCanEat (@AllYouCanEatMe) October 1, 2015
If I am ever killed in a mass shooting, or otherwise by gun, please politicize my death, even if it means saving lives. #UmpquaShooting— brian boucher (@briankboucher) October 2, 2015
If I'm shot and killed by police, or in a mass shooting, or in any context where someone says "don't politicize it," please politicize it.— Jordan Budd (@jordan_budd) October 2, 2015
Just a reminder that if I ever die in a mass shooting, I want you all to politicize the hell out of it and get some real change done.— Matthew Watkins (@oraymw) October 2, 2015
Oh if I'm ever killed in a mass shooting bc we still don't have fun control laws, I give everyone full permission to "politicize my death"— Merrill Kaye (@merrillkaye) October 1, 2015
If I am ever killed in a mass shooting incident, please politicize the hell out of my death, and do so IMMEDIATELY.— October Deathiels (@1aprildaniels) October 1, 2015
Some tweets came just hours after the shooting, while others were in direct response to the president's White House press briefing in which he said "somebody, somewhere will comment and say, Obama politicized this issue. Well, this is something we should politicize."
His words were criticized by politicians including Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who claimed the president was using the tragedy to further his own agenda.
With few facts, Obama is quick to politicize this tragedy to advance his liberal, anti-gun agenda. #USSshooting— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 2, 2015
Though lacking a unified hashtag, the movement was eerily reminiscent of the #IfIDieInPoliceCustody tweets that followed the death of Sandra Bland, whose hanging in a Texas jail cell in July was ruled a suicide. Activists used the hashtag to bring attention to Bland's death as well as other police-involved killings across the country.
#IfIDieInPoliceCustody ask every question, and know that I did not end my own life. And protest in the spirit of the founding fathers.— deray mckesson (@deray) July 17, 2015
#IfIDieInPoliceCustody question everything. Don't believe a word they say. Demand the truth by any means necessary.— ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 17, 2015
#IfIDieInPoliceCustody Tell my family not to call for forgiveness, peace, or patience during an "investigation" & I wouldn't kill myself.— Cat Lady Ministry (@SyGoFlyy) July 16, 2015
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