The five stages of Republican candidate reactions after mass shootings

Nicky Woolf
Thursday 3 December 2015 23.07 GMT

Mass shooting events in America happen at an alarming rate, with roughly one every day. When an attack hits the headlines, like the recent shootings in San Bernardino, California, and Colorado Springs, the prospective Republican candidates for president have a clear playbook.

Stage 1: Silence.
First off, advisers will be telling their candidate: don’t say anything. After all, the initial reports of any mass shooting are likely to be confused and are often inaccurate.
Sometimes these events gain wider traction; often they will sink without a trace. Obviously, in the first instance it would be irresponsible to comment on what might be an ongoing situation.

Republican candidates did not exactly remain silent following the San Bernardino shooting. On Thursday, Texas senator Ted Cruz linked the shootings to the recent Paris attacks, telling donors and activists at the Republican Jewish Coalition that he was concerned the events in San Bernardino were related to terrorism and that the US was currently in a time of war.

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Stage 2: Prayer
After a tragedy has been confirmed, candidates often respond by offering prayers and sympathies. The facts of the shooting and the identity of the suspect may still be murky but the candidates have the ability to at least show their awareness of the tragedy without weighing in.

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