Not satisfied with politicians' offer of thoughts and prayers in the wake of more than 250 mass shootings so far in 2019, advocates for changing America's gun laws spoke out loudly on Sunday — and many of them shouted a simple command to their public servants: "Do something!"
The call rang out at a vigil in Dayton Sunday night, as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's speech was partly drowned out by many in the large crowd shouting "Do something!"
DeWine was also sharply criticized on Twitter, where he said that he and his wife, Fran, were "absolutely heartbroken over the horrible attack" and offered prayers to victims and their families in Dayton.
The governor was met with a sharp retort, as activist Kristin Mink replied, "The very first bill you signed into law was a 'reaffirmation of the Second Amendment' and your campaign was endorsed by the NRA so you can just f*** right off."
DeWine signed that measure in March, applying a legislative fix to the state's recent "Stand Your Ground" law — which included language that could have inadvertently banned shotguns and rifles like the AR-15.
A call for action against gun violence also went out at a pro soccer game in Washington, D.C. After the Philadelphia Union's Alejandro Bedoya scored a goal, he ended his celebration by grabbing an on-field mic and shouting, "Hey Congress, do something. End gun violence now!"
Bedoya added, "Let's go!"
Singer Kacey Musgraves turned to the subject of gun violence at her Lollapalooza performance Sunday evening, leading a crowd of thousands who shouted, "Somebody f****** do something!"
"I don't know what the answer is, but obviously something has to be f****** done," Musgraves said.
On Monday morning, the New York Post devoted its cover story to the gun issue. Addressing President Trump, the Post said, "America is scared and we need bold action. It added, "It's time to ban weapons of war."
The U.S. once had a ban on assault weapons — but Congress allowed that ban to lapse in 2004, at the urging of the National Rifle Association and against the wishes of several national police organizations. That ban and other potential gun control measures are now back in the spotlight, after a weekend in which two gunmen shot and killed 29 people in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton.
At a Monday morning news conference, Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl was asked about the Dayton gunman's use of a powerful firearm with a 100-round magazine, which allowed him to kill people quickly and indiscriminately.
"It's problematic. It is fundamentally problematic," Biehl said, "to have that level of weaponry in a civilian environment, unregulated, it is problematic."
The shootings prompted President Trump to address the nation Monday morning. Delivering a brief speech from the White House, Trump called for better mental health treatment and involuntary confinement for people who pose a risk to their communities.
Trump backed so-called "red flag" laws that allow authorities to confiscate firearms from people who are deemed to be on the verge of using them against others.
"Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger — not the gun," Trump said.
"It's apparent something's got to be done" about gun violence, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo told NPR's David Greene on Monday.
Margo said she's good friends with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, and that the two spoke on Sunday — after Whaley initially reached out after the shooting in El Paso.
"She had sent me condolences," Margo said. "And I called her up and said, 'Wait a minute. I need to offer you the same.'"
As calls for action against gun violence spread, the Annals of Internal Medicine announced Monday, "There is something we can do."
The organization pointed readers to its publication last November of a list of "common sense recommendations for preventing firearm injury and death in the U.S." that was compiled by the American College of Physicians.
The ACP has long urged policymakers to do more to prevent gun deaths and injuries, which it has deemed a public health crisis. Some of its past positions have been joined by a wide range of groups, from the American College of Surgeons and American Psychiatric Association to the American Bar Association.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence recommends several steps to curb mass shootings, from imposing new restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines to requiring extended and universal background checks.
"Enough! How many times do we have to keep saying it? This is a national emergency," Brady President Kris Brown said after the Ohio shooting. He urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to call Congress back from recess for an emergency session to consider gun legislation.
NPR's Casey Noenickx contributed to this report.
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