Right-Wing Media's Unhinged Reactions To San Bernardino Shooting

Special Programs Guns & Public Safety

Written by Nick Fernandez

Published

After news reports of a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, right-wing media figures reacted by attacking Muslims, chastising calls for gun safety, and dismissing the prevalence of gun violence in the United States.

Mass Shooting At San Bernardino, California Inland Regional Center

CNN: Shooting In San Bernardino Leaves Several Dead. On December 2, officials reported one to three gunmen attacked a center for people with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino, California, where as many as 20 people were shot:

The hunt for one to three suspects was taking place near a San Bernardino, California, center for people with developmental disabilities, where as many as 20 people were shotWednesday, authorities said.

SWAT teams and the bomb squad were working to clear the buildings where the shootings took place. [CNN, 12/2/15]

Right-Wing Media React To Shooting By Attacking Liberals, Muslims, And Promoting Guns

The Blaze's Dana Loesch Called Democratic Presidential Hopeful Martin O'Malley “Shameful” For Calling For “Meaningful Gun Safety Laws.” The Blaze's Dana Loesch, replied to Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley's tweet that called for “meaningful gun safety laws,” calling him “shameful” and “a ghoul”:

[Twitter, 12/2/15]

Fox News Contributor Erick Erickson Blamed President Obama For Telling “People To Take Guns To Knife Fights.” Fox News contributor Erick Erickson tweeted that “mass shootings ... weren't so common until after Obama told people to take guns to knife fights”:

[Twitter, 12/2/15]

Breitbart News' Matthew Vadum Asked  Whether “The San Bernardino Shooters [Were] Muslim?”  Breitbart News' Matthew Vadum reacted to the San Bernardino shooting by asking if “the San Bernardino shooters [were] Muslim”:

[Twitter, 12/2/15]

Media Research Center's Dan Gainor: “Somehow Japanese Manage To Kill Themselves In Bulk Without Guns.” Media Research Center's Dan Gainor suggested that the prevalence of guns in the United States is not a problem because the “Japanese manage to kill themselves in bulk without guns”:

[Twitter, 12/2/15]

Fox's Tammy Bruce: “Consider Gang Members, Muslim Converts In Jail.” Fox News political contributor and Washington Times columnist Tammy Bruce tweeted that San Bernardino had the “3rd most gang members *in the country.* 'Arab sounding' names? Consider gang members, Muslim converts in jail” as speculation for the unknown attackers:

[Twitter, 12/2/15]

NRA News' Colion Noir Calls Hillary Clinton And Martin O'Malley “Gun Control THOTS.” In a series of tweets reacting to the San Bernardino shooting, NRA News commentator Colion Noir referred to Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Martin O'Malley as “THOTS” (That Ho Over There) and claimed that Clinton “is already taking advantage of the deaths” in the San Bernardino shooting: 

[Twitter, 12/2/15, 12/2/15]

The Daily Caller's Kerry Picket Used The San Bernardino Shooting To Mock Climate Change. Daily Caller reporter Kerry Picket tweeted  “Helluva lot of #Climatechange going on in #SanBernadino [sic] today”:

[Twitter, 12/2/15]