Presidential candidates, in addition to the White House, were quick to respond to the mass shooting at an Oregon community college Thursday, largely along party lines.
On the campaign trail, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton was asked by a CNN reporter for her reaction to the shooting. She called it "beyond [her] comprehension" and said that she was "committed" to achieving sensible gun control measures.
Here is what Hillary Clinton said to me about the Oregon shooting after her event in MA. pic.twitter.com/uWrU9ykj09— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) October 1, 2015
In a statement issued from his Senate office, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said that the American people are "horrified by these never-ending mass shootings" and that "we must do everything we can to put an end to this awful epidemic of senseless slaughter."
"We need a comprehensive approach. We need a sensible gun-control legislation which prevents guns from being used by people who should not have them," he said.
As a nation, we must do everything we can to put an end to this awful epidemic of senseless slaughter.— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 1, 2015
And former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley also called for "real gun reforms."
Tweets won't stop this. Thoughts and prayers won't, either. Only real gun reforms will stop mass shootings from occurring nearly every day.— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) October 1, 2015
Republican presidential candidates were quick to offer their condolences on Twitter, but offered little policy:
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy at Umpqua Community College.— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 1, 2015
Praying for Umpqua Community College, the victims, and families impacted by this senseless tragedy.— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) October 1, 2015
It's with a heavy heart that we all pray for those killed or injured in Oregon today. #UCCShooting— George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) October 1, 2015
My prayers are with everyone in Oregon. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts.— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 1, 2015
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday that "sensible steps" to protect communities from gun violence are a "top priority" for President Obama, after a shooting at a community college in southwestern Oregon.
Gun control, Earnest said, has "not at all been lowered on the priority scale" for the White House, but he added that the president is "quite realistic that we'll need to see a fundamental change in terms of the way the American people communicate this priority to Congress before we'll see a different outcome in the legislative process."
"We've not yet seen that kind of strong bipartisan support across the country translate into legislative support in the United States Congress that's sufficient to pass legislation that would, again, implement these kinds of common-sense solutions," Earnest told reporters.