Elected officials offer outpouring of support for Florida HS shooting victims

Politicians reacted on Twitter as details about the shooting were still unclear.

ByABC News
February 15, 2018, 3:00 AM

— -- At least 17 people were killed and over a dozen more injured in a shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida Wednesday, according to law enforcement officials.

Not long after the news broke, politicians reacted on Twitter as details about the shooting were still unclear. An investigation into the motive had only just begun on Wednesday as the officials, some local and others national, responded.

While many offered their prayers, some, like Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., invoked previous attacks and appealed for change from the Senate floor.

Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.

Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 14, 2018

Our worst fears are being realized. It looks like it’s a number of fatalities. Praying for all those students, families and school members affected at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) February 14, 2018

Parkland is an idyllic community. Tragedies like this occur everywhere. School shootings occur everywhere. This is horrific. https://t.co/ygR6Z5gmgN

Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) February 14, 2018

Oh no. Again. Sending every good thought I have to Parkland right now. https://t.co/gR57dPrcBU

Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 14, 2018

Sen. Chris Murphy addresses Florida school shooting on Senate floor: "Let me just note once again for my colleagues...We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else." https://t.co/BuEAqG21or pic.twitter.com/h2ODRP5g7N

ABC News (@ABC) February 14, 2018

April 16, 2007, was the worst day of my life—when 32 people were shot and killed at Virginia Tech. Nearly 11 years later, there are far too many "worst days" in America. The people of Parkland, Florida, are facing one of them today. I am heartbroken and grieve with them.

Tim Kaine (@timkaine) February 14, 2018

Our worst fears are being realized. It looks like it’s a number of fatalities. Praying for all those students, families and school members affected at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) February 14, 2018

Parkland is an idyllic community. Tragedies like this occur everywhere. School shootings occur everywhere. This is horrific. https://t.co/ygR6Z5gmgN

— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) February 14, 2018

Oh no. Again. Sending every good thought I have to Parkland right now. https://t.co/gR57dPrcBU

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 14, 2018

Sen. Chris Murphy addresses Florida school shooting on Senate floor: "Let me just note once again for my colleagues...We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else." https://t.co/BuEAqG21or pic.twitter.com/h2ODRP5g7N

— ABC News (@ABC) February 14, 2018

April 16, 2007, was the worst day of my life—when 32 people were shot and killed at Virginia Tech. Nearly 11 years later, there are far too many "worst days" in America. The people of Parkland, Florida, are facing one of them today. I am heartbroken and grieve with them.

— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) February 14, 2018
","publishedDate":"2018-02-15T08:00:00Z","contributors":[{"name":"ABC News","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2018-02-15T08:04:34Z","section":"Politics","wordCount":347,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[{"label":"Parkland school shooting","href":"/alerts/FloridaSchoolShooting"}]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"video","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":{"id":"53091526","type":"video","locator":"https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/bad-day-florida-senator-mass-shooting-school-53091526","shortLocator":"http://abcn.ws/2o7Vrpp","issued":"2018-02-14T21:47:26Z","created":"2018-02-14T21:47:26Z","modified":"2018-02-14T21:56:13Z","date":"2018-02-14T21:47:26Z","keywords":["Florida senator","Senator Bill Nelson","mass shooting","numerous fatalities","parkland florida","school shooting","Video","53091526"],"section":"US","title":"'It's a bad day:' Florida senator says of mass shooting at school","headline":"'It's a bad day:' Florida senator says of mass shooting at school","shortHeadline":"'It's a bad day:' Florida senator says of mass shooting at school","linkHeadline":"'It's a bad day:' Florida senator says of mass shooting at school","description":"\"If you pray, you ought to pray for these students and their school and their parents right now,\" Senator Bill Nelson, D-Florida, told ABC News.","leadInText":"\"If you pray, you ought to pray for these students and their school and their parents right now,\" Senator Bill Nelson, D-Florida, told ABC News.","duration":174000,"contents":{"image":{"id":"53091527","created":"2018-02-14T21:46:46Z","modified":"2018-02-14T21:47:06Z","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"name":"raw","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"12x5","ratio":"12x5","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_12x5_992.jpg"},{"name":"16x9","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"1x1","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_1x1_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x3","ratio":"4x3","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_4x3_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x5","ratio":"4x5","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_4x5_992.jpg"}],"description":"\"If you pray, you ought to pray for these students and their school and their parents right now,\" Senator Bill Nelson, D-Florida, told ABC News."},"playlist":[{"id":"53091526","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/02/180214_spev_sen_nelson_shooting_reax_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"53095452","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/02/180214_wnt_vega_643_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"53090251","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/02/180214_vod_orig_sen_murphy_school_shooting_MIX_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"53090965","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/02/180214_abc_spec_superintendent_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}}]},"streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/02/180214_spev_sen_nelson_shooting_reax_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}},"transcript":{},"alertTag":"FloridaSchoolShooting","sectionRoot":"US","adFlag":true,"noAds":false,"isAmbient":false,"sponsored":false,"hideDate":false,"hideReportTypo":false},"featuredImage":null,"dateline":"—","seo":{"JSONLD":{"videoObject":{"name":"'It's a bad day:' Florida senator says of mass shooting at school","description":"\"If you pray, you ought to pray for these students and their school and their parents right now,\" Senator Bill Nelson, D-Florida, told ABC News.","uploadDate":"2018-02-14T21:47:26Z","thumbnailUrl":["https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_1x1_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_4x3_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/180214_abc_spev_senator_nelson_16x9_992.jpg?w=384"],"url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/02/180214_spev_sen_nelson_shooting_reax_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/02/180214_spev_sen_nelson_shooting_reax_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","publisher":{"name":"ABC News","logo":{"url":"","@type":"ImageObject"},"@type":"Organization"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","id":"https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/bad-day-florida-senator-mass-shooting-school-53091526"},"duration":"PT2M54S"}}},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. Biden","firstName":"Joe","lastName":"Biden","party":"democrats","major":true,"incumbent":false,"winner":true,"votes":306},"republicans":{"id":8639,"displayName":"Donald Trump","shortDisplayName":"D. Trump","firstName":"Donald","lastName":"Trump","party":"republicans","major":true,"incumbent":true,"winner":false,"votes":232},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"electoral","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{},"total":306,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"81,283,098","value":81283098}},"republicans":{"available":{},"total":232,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"74,222,958","value":74222958}},"other":{"available":{},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":538},"needed":{"displayText":"270 to win","displayValue":"270","value":270},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"reporting":"99% of Expected Vote Reporting"},"senate":{"header":"Senate Seat Results","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":46,"winner":false},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":50,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":2}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"senate","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"12 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"12 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"12","value":12},"total":46,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 1 seat","displayValue":"1","value":1},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"23 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"23 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"23","value":23},"total":50,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 1 seat","displayValue":"-1","value":-1},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"0 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"0 Others up for election","displayValue":"0","value":0},"total":2,"popular":{}},"total":100},"needed":{"displayText":"51 for control","displayValue":"51","value":51},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:05.390Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:05PM ET"}},"house":{"header":"House Results: Dems Retain Control","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":222,"winner":true},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":210,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"house","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"233 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"233 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"233","value":233},"total":222,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 10 seats","displayValue":"-10","value":-10},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"201 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"201 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"201","value":201},"total":210,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 10 seats","displayValue":"10","value":10},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"1 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"1 Others up for election","displayValue":"1","value":1},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":435},"needed":{"displayText":"218 for control","displayValue":"218","value":218},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:02.900Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:02PM ET"}},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]},"electionsConfig":{}},"types":["electoral","senate","house"]}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewabcnews,wdgasec,wdgnewabcnweb,wdgnewabcnewsrollup","ns":"abcnews","pageName":"abcn:politics:story","pageType":"story","pageUrl":"abcnews.go.com/Politics/politicians-react-florida-high-school-shooting/story?id=53090393&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"abcn:site","tagID":"apage_news01","userABCookie":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","alertTag":"Parkland school shooting","authors":"ABC News","authorsBureau":"none","authorsUnit":"none","dateline":"—","id":"53090393","modDate":"2018-02-15","mediaOnPage":"video","modTime":"03:04","provider":"ABC News","pubDate":"2018-02-15","pubTime":"03:00","section":"Politics","subBrand":"none","title":"Elected officials offer outpouring of support for Florida HS shooting victims","videoId":"53091526","videoName":"'It's a bad day:' Florida senator says of mass shooting at school","wordCount":347},"taboola":{"config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":null,"pageTypeOverrides":{"story":{"mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"},"home":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","container":"taboola-homepage-thumbnails","type":"home","targetType":"mix","placement":"Homepage Thumbnails"},"section":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","type":"category","targetType":"mix","placement":"Section Front Thumbnails"},"liveBlog":{"mode":"thumbnails-d","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":"Blog"}}}}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/Politics/politicians-react-florida-high-school-shooting/story?id=53090393&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","vary":{"host":"abcnews.go.com","cached":true,"path":"/Politics/politicians-react-florida-high-school-shooting/story","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_b-819","region":"gdpr"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};