*Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has come under fire for his reaction to this weekend’s double mass shootings.
While emotions continue to run high across the internet over the shooting in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday which killed 20, and Sunday’s shooting in Dayton, Ohio, which killed nine, Yahoo reports that Tyson took time to remind folks that more people are killed by the flu and car accidents than mass shootings, adding, “often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.”
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: El Paso Shooting Update: Multiple Killed 🙁 Suspects in Custody – VIDEO
In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings.
On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…
500 to Medical errors
300 to the Flu
250 to Suicide
200 to Car Accidents
40 to Homicide via HandgunOften our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) August 4, 2019
Followers of his Twitter account have slammed the TV personality for downplaying the tragedies in El Paso and Dayton — peep some of their comments below:
The difference is people are currently working on decreasing those other death toles, Neil.
Jesus you’re awful.
— Andy (@trtx84) August 4, 2019
As you may or may not have noticed, part of the upset around this isn’t about the number of deaths, but rather the failure of government to adequately respond to a public health issue.
— Summer Brennan (@summerbrennan) August 4, 2019
So, you aren’t familiar with the phrase, “Not right now; this isn’t the time,” I take it?
— Bärí A. Williams (@BariAWilliams) August 4, 2019
Imagine going to the store or a bar and getting shot at or killed or having a loved one shot at or killed and a supposed genius tells 13 million people it’s all just a spectacle because, really, statistically, it’s not all that bad compared to other ways you could suddenly die.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) August 4, 2019
As we previously reported, police responded Saturday to an active shooter in the area of the Cielo Vista Mall. Multiple victims were reported injured at a Walmart, CNN affiliate KTSM reported.
At least 19 people are dead and 40 injured after a shooting Saturday near a shopping mall in El Paso, Texas. One suspect, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius from the Dallas area, is in custody.
Trump said he will make a statement Monday on the two mass shootings and what can be done in response. He said his statement will be at around 10 a.m. on Monday.
Meanwhile, many Americans, including several Democrats, have accused Trump of encouraging violence through his attacks on migrants and lawmakers who oppose him.
“We have a President of the United States that uses white nationalist rhetoric and engages in racism,” said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. “From its early days, the Trump Administration has sought to limit funding to groups dedicated to countering white extremism.”
“I blame the people who pull the trigger,” acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney told NBC’s Meet the Press with Chuck Todd. “Goodness gracious, is someone really blaming the president? People are sick, until we address why people think this way.”
Why would you ever tweet this?
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) August 4, 2019
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!