Author Stephen King has sparked outrage after commenting on the shooting incident involving former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
A gunman opened fire at a Trump rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring the former president. The incident also resulted in the death of one rally attendee and seriously wounded two others, according to a Secret Service spokesperson.
King's Controversial Comment
Alluding to the weapon used in the incident, King posted on social media:
"An AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle was used in the Butler shooting. These are the guns the Republican Party—and Trump—want to protect."
The post quickly garnered over 780,000 views and a flood of responses.
King's comment received a mix of outrage and support.
One user retorted: "For a fiction writer, Stephen King knows little about this subject. Stay in your fictional lane."
Another criticized, "You and the hateful rhetoric you spread every day contributed to what happened yesterday. You are part of the problem in this country."
Others defended Second Amendment rights, saying, "Guns themselves don't kill. People with guns do. And crossbows, knives, stones, candle holders, even books."
King is known for his horror novels and outspoken political opinions, and he has been a vocal critic of Trump for years.
Earlier in July, King tweeted, "Trump's cronies are planning what amounts to a fascist state, and the Supreme Court is clearing the way for them. This should concern conservatives as well as liberals."
Reactions to King's Comment
King's recent post about the gun used in the shooting sparked particularly strong reactions. One user commented, "What is wrong with you? Your first post about the shooting is to blame TRUMP and the Republican Party!!"
Former Right Side Broadcasting Network writer Ashley Muñoz tweeted, "A RIFLE DIDN'T SHOOT TRUMP, A HUMAN DID. Let's focus on the criminal, not their device. Typical liberal idiocy shines brightly, from you."
Another user, AnthonyScudier4, criticized King for using the tragedy to make a political point: "Four people shot... One dead, two in critical condition, and Stephen's humanity sees this and thinks, 'I can make this into a great political point on X and it should get a lot of impressions.' That's a VERY Dark, Dark soul...!"
Ongoing Debate
King's comment has reignited debates about gun control and political rhetoric in the wake of violent incidents.
His detractors argue that focusing on the weapon distracts from addressing the actions of the perpetrator, while supporters believe that highlighting the role of firearms is key in preventing future violence.
Dagens.com reached out to King through his website on Sunday for comment but has yet to receive a response.
