Alyssa Milano and Dana Loesch crossed virtual swords earlier this year during the National Rifle Association's annual convention in Dallas, with Milano leading an anti-gun rally in a park near the convention site and Loesch tweeting her for bringing her own armed security.
The two were among the many quickly leaping into the social media fray immediately after Sunday's shooting at a video game tournament in Jacksonville. Even before the suspected gunman's identity were known, or even who or how many victims there were, people on opposing sides of the gun control debate took to social media to advocate.
Milano, a politically active actor, posted a message urging Florida voters to cast ballots "for candidates that reject the NRA."
NRA spokeswoman Loesch was just as quick on the social-media draw, posting, "If you're going to create gun free zones then have security present. Value and protect innocent life. This isn't a controversial belief. The Landing has had security concerns for some time."
Three people, including the gunman, were killed, and nine others were injured when David Katz, 24, of Baltimore, opened fire Sunday afternoon during a video game competition, officials said. Katz shot himself. Two other people suffered injuries other than gunshot wounds, Sheriff Mike Williams said during a news conference.
Officials haven’t publicly announced a suspected motive, but people on differing sides of the gun debate were quick to express their thoughts.
David Hogg, a graduate of the Parkland, Florida, high school that was the scene of a Feb. 14 mass shooting, urged political action.
The Jacksonville Landing is a gun-free zone. Its code of conduct specifies "Possession of a weapon, even if legally carried (except by law enforcement officers) is absolutely prohibited on Landing property."
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