In the days since the mass shooting at a small church in Texas, both Democrats and Republicans have used the incident to move forward with their agenda. After a Democratic member of congress walked out during a moment of silence, Sarah Palin responded on social media.

Texas shooting reaction

Just before noon last Sunday morning, 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley made his way to the First Baptist Church in the town Sutherland Springs, Texas. With a population of only 600 people, church is as much of a social gathering as it is a place of worship. As Kelley exited his vehicle, he opened fire with an assault riffle, both in and outside the building, shooting close to 50 people in the process.

After walking out of the church doors, an armed neighbor chased Kelley off before the shooter killed himself following an altercation with local police. Once the situation was under control, 26 people were reported dead, including children, with dozens more being left injured. In the aftermath, the reaction from the world of politics was predictably partisan. Democrats were quick to speak out in argument for gun control, while Republicans dismissed the notion, accusing liberals of trying to politicize the attack, and instead offered their routine "thoughts and prayers." As reported by The Hill on November 7, one Democratic lawmaker walked out of congress during a moment of silence for the victims in protest of Republican inaction on gun control, which didn't go over well with Sarah Palin.

On Tuesday in the House of Representatives, a moment of silence was declared in honor of those who lost their lives during the aforementioned mass shooting in Texas.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) decided that he was done being silent over the lack of progress on gun control and got up and walked out. In a video posted to his Facebook page shortly after, Lieu explained why he decided to walk out. "In my short period in Congress, three of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history have occurred," Lieu said, before adding, "I will not be silent."

Palin responds

In response to Ted Lieu's walkout, former half-term governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, ripped into the congressman on her Twitter account.

"What a disgrace," Palin wrote. "This Rep. should be ashamed of himself," she continued, before adding, "You're a member of Congress, for crying out loud."

Lieu answers

Not long after Sarah Palin tweeted out her reaction, Ted Lieu responded to the former Republican Vice Presidential candidate. "Dear @SarahPalinUSA: Feel free to call me names because I'm cool like that," Lieu wrote, while stating, "But I will keep fighting for gun safety. Unlike you I don't quit."

Not stopping there, Ted Lieu went on to send out two more tweets over the issue.

In his second tweet, the congressman offered his own thoughts and prayers, but then elaborated further with his clear opposition to the National Riffle Association (NRA).

In his third and final tweet on the subject, the Democratic congressman didn't hold back. "I agree my prior tweet could be better. So here: I pray for the victims in TX," Lieu wrote, while concluding, "Also, screw the NRA and can you help Dems take back the House."
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