Florida School Shooting: Ellen DeGeneres, Reese Witherspoon & More Demand Gun Control

Celebrities took to Twitter to react to the devastating mass shooting at a South Florida high school that took place on Wednesday, February 14. Gunman and former student, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, open fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed 17 teens and adults. Authorities confirmed Cruz has been taken into custody.

In the wake of the horrendous news, Hollywood heavy hitters used the social media platform to offer thoughts and prayers, and also to demand better gun control laws in the United States. Actors including Mayim Bialik, Reese Witherspoon, Chelsea Handler and Rainn Wilson called for #GunReformNow:

My heart is breaking with all of Parkland, Florida. It’s not too soon to talk about #GunReformNow. Enough is enough.

— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) February 15, 2018

Heartbroken over the news of another school shooting. This is the 18th in 45 days of 2018. Students & teachers shouldn’t have to fear for their safety. We must do more to prevent these senseless acts of gun violence. My heart is w/ the people in Parkland, FL. Enough is enough.

— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) February 15, 2018

No words, no actions, no laws are enough until we end this epidemic of school shootings in our country. My heart is with the students and parents of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) February 14, 2018

As we send our thoughts & prayers to the people of Parkland, Florida how about we, the people & govt of America, actually DO something abt gun violence.

— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) February 15, 2018

Like thousands in South Florida, we sent the boys to school in Broward County this morning… there are no words to describe the despair, horror & anger. This does not have to be our collective reality. How many more? How many children must not make it home?

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) February 14, 2018

We have to elect candidates that are not funded by the NRA in November. We have an opportunity to elect candidates who won’t allow kids to go to school and get shot. It is disgusting how many times this has happened and Republicans do nothing. You all have blood on your hands.

— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) February 14, 2018

We owe it to our children and our teachers to keep them safe while at school. Prayers won’t do this: action will. Congress, please do your job and protect Americans from senseless gun violence

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) February 15, 2018

We can’t wait any longer. #GunControlNow #LoveIsLouder pic.twitter.com/TdpTnLvAos

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) February 14, 2018

During an interview on CNN, former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd was visibly emotional and shaken when discussing the mass shooting.

“A child of God is dead”: Former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd choked back tears as he confronted the grim details of the deadly school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida https://t.co/YMEbeE0ZKZ pic.twitter.com/1Qn88dQKsg

— CNN (@CNN) February 15, 2018

And in a heart-wrenching interview, Florida shooting survivor Samantha Grady told Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb of the Today show how her best friend died next to her.

Absolutely heartbreaking. Florida shooting survivor Samantha Grady tells @hodakotb and @savannahguthrie her best friend was shot right next to her and did not survive pic.twitter.com/eTlQlJb3op

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 15, 2018