2020 candidates and more react to Santa Clarita school shooting

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adamkaz/iStock(WASHINGTON) — As the nation is left reeling with news of yet another act of gun violence at a school on Thursday, a handful of lawmakers and 2020 presidential candidates reacted to the heartbreak and renewed their calls for action on social media. Multiple students were wounded at a shooting at Saugus High School, in Santa Clarita, California, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.The White House said that President Donald Trump is monitoring the reports of the school shooting and encouraged those in the area to follow the advice of local law enforcement.Meanwhile, many of the Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls reacted to the news on Twitter, sending thoughts to those impacted and calling for change.”My heart goes out to the Santa Clarita community as they respond to a mass shooting at a high school,” Julián Castro, a Democratic presidential candidate and the former secretary of housing and urban development under President Barack Obama, said in a tweet. “We cannot accept this as normal. We must act on behalf of our children.”

My heart goes out to the Santa Clarita community as they respond to a mass shooting at a high school.Thank you to the first responders, teachers, and parents responding to the scene. We cannot accept this as normal. We must act on behalf of our children.

— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) November 14, 2019

Fellow presidential candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., also expressed her heartbreak on Twitter, writing: “Our children and communities are being terrorized. We can’t accept this.”

Heartbroken and praying for Santa Clarita. I’m incredibly grateful to the first responders who are on the scene of this active situation. If you are near the area, please listen to law enforcement.Our children and communities are being terrorized. We can’t accept this.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 14, 2019

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang called the news “horrifying” and emphasized the need for action to “fight gun violence and shootings at every level.”

The high school shooting in Santa Clarita is horrifying. My heart goes out to the families and children – our kids deserve better. We have to fight gun violence and shootings at every level, from firearm laws on down. The time for action is long past – we must do more than mourn.

— Andrew Yang? (@AndrewYang) November 14, 2019

Author Marianne Williamson tweeted asking for “all of us who pray now pray,” and for “the strength to be the people who rise up & say ‘No more!"”

Active shooter situation now at Santa Clarita, Ca. high school. May all of us who pray now pray – for blessing for the victims of this horror, for forgiveness for our country that we’ve allowed such things to fester & for the strength to be the people who rise up & say “No more!”

— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) November 14, 2019

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., called the news “another sad example of a school shooting.”

Another sad example of a school shooting & why students across the country live in fear of gun violence. We all stand with CA victims and neighbors, students & teachers & law enforcement as they work to track down & stop suspect from shooting more people. https://t.co/MoeWdiYOz1

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 14, 2019

Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, wrote that it’s time to “hold the NRA and our leaders in Washington accountable.”

We don’t yet have all the details of the horrifying events in Santa Clarita. But we do know that in America today, children are scared to go to school. Parents and teachers are terrified. And that can’t stand. It is time to hold the NRA and our leaders in Washington accountable.

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 14, 2019

Former Rep. Katie Hill, who just recently resigned as a congresswoman representing California, said the shooting hit very close to home. Hill tweeted that it was her high school, and she was “praying for all.”

My god, active shooter at my high school. 7 injured so far. Unsure if the suspect is caught yet. Praying for all… we have so many campaign interns and volunteers who go there. https://t.co/Z8di6oHNrj

— Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) November 14, 2019

Republican governor of Kentucky Matt Bevin reacted to the news in a Facebook post, writing: “The hearts of Kentuckians are broken today for the students, teachers, staff & families of those at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California.””For those who know the power of prayer, please pray for peace that is beyond our ability to understand,” Bevin added. Copyright © 2019, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.