Donald Trump has commented on the “terrible” shooting at a university in Florida, but ultimately emphasized his “obligation” as president, repeating a phrase that many feel has been overused.
On April 17, a gunman opened fire at Florida State University, killing two people and injuring at least six others, according to investigators.
The suspect, 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, is reportedly the son of a police officer and is said to have used his mother’s former service weapon in the attack.
During a press conference in the White House’s Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked about the shooting, to which he reflected, “These things are terrible.”
He then delivered a controversial nine-word statement, emphasizing that he is “a big advocate of the Second Amendment,” adding that he has “protected it from the beginning.”
Trump argued: “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do. It’s a phrase that’s used probably too often.
“I will tell you that it’s a shame I’m just hearing about it now, I know the area very well, I know the school very well. And we’ll have more to say about it later, we’ll see what happens.”
When asked about what he meant by ‘see what happens,’ Trump said: “Only in terms of what happens as far as legislation’s concerned, this has been going on a long time.”
He ultimately resolved to reporters in nine words: “I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment.”
“I ran on the Second Amendment – on many other things – and I will always protect the Second Amendment.”
And it’s not taken long for people to weigh in online.
Trump’s comments have been controversial (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
One Twitter user wrote: “If guns aren’t the problem, why do countries with fewer guns have fewer mass shootings? If people are the problem, why not support laws that keep guns out of dangerous hands?”
Another user added: “Bro picks and chooses which parts of the Constitution he wants to follow.”
A third commenter wrote: “‘The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do,’ he says, like someone defending a haunted blender after it chopped up the neighbor.
“This guy would trip over a rake, sue gravity, and still blame the Constitution.”
A fourth person said: “I’m a gun owner. People need to understand that the Second Amendment and common-sense gun laws can coexist. It’s not partisan, and no one is coming for our guns.”
A fifth added: “You can be pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-gun legislation.”
The suspect in the university shooting was shot and taken to the hospital, where he is being treated for “serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” according to Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and the identities of the victims who lost their lives have not yet been publicly released.
