Thursday's New York Daily News rebuked conservative politicians for only offering "thoughts and prayers" in light of Wednesday's shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. that left 14 dead and 17 injured. Image by New York Daily News

Family members and friends await word about loved ones in the aftermath of the mass shooting Wednesday at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- GOP presidential hopefuls focused their reaction to the mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. on sending thoughts and prayers for the victims, while Democratic candidates concentrated their attention on calls to end such massacres.

Wednesday morning's shooting at the Inland Regional Center left 14 dead and 17 people wounded. The Los Angeles Times reported that police killed two armed suspects: Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik.


As the search for suspects unfolded Wednesday evening, candidates like Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul, Dr. Ben Carson, Sen. Lindsey Graham, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said they were praying for families and first responders affected.

Front-runner Donald Trump tweeted several times lauding police officers who responded to the scene, saying "give credit where credit is due." Trump also said his Wednesday evening rally in Manassas, Va., would observe a moment of silence for the victims.

Congratulations on the GREAT job done by POLICE and law enforcement on the California shootings. Give credit where credit is due. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2015

GOP candidates like Sen. Marco Rubio and Carly Fiorina remained silent on the shooting Wednesday evening. Fiorina's campaign hosted a live Q&A on Periscope, while Rubio was in Missouri, filing to appear on the primary ballot.

I am now officially on the ballot for the Missouri primary. Thank you, @Rep_TRichardson for making it happen. pic.twitter.com/8EGvnpP1ES — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 2, 2015

By contrast, Democratic candidates expressed anguish and anger at yet another mass shooting, less than a week after a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo. that left three dead.

"I refuse to accept this as normal," tweeted Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "We must take action stop gun violence now."

I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now. -H https://t.co/SkKglwQycb — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 2, 2015

Sen. Bernie Sanders called the frequency of mass shooting in America "sickening" and likewise called for an end to gun violence.

Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 2, 2015

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley called the shooting "horrifying" and doubled down on his vow to take on the NRA.

Horrifying news out of #SanBernardino. Enough is enough: it's time to stand up to the @NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws — Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) December 2, 2015

The New York Daily News called out politicians who have vowed to offer "thoughts and prayers" for shooting victims in light of Wednesday's shooting. The tabloid's Thursday front page reads "God isn't fixing this" in bold letters, surrounded by images of tweets by Cruz, Graham, Paul and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

According to the website shootingtracker.com, Wednesday's shooting is the 353rd mass shooting in America this year.

NRA dumped $922K into McConnell's re-elect bid, so when it comes to preventing gun violence all u get is this tweet https://t.co/RsSvFRDlZr — igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) December 3, 2015