Republican Senator Ted Cruz received a torrent of criticism after he tweeted his condolences after a mass shooting in Allen, Texas, killed eight people and left seven injured. On Saturday, Mr Cruz tweeted his condolences and said he would be monitoring events unfolding after 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday afternoon. “Heidi and I are praying for the families of the victims of the horrific mall shooting in Allen, Texas,” he tweeted out. “We pray also for the broader Collin County community that’s in shock from this tragedy.” In response, many pointed out how Mr Cruz ardently opposes measures to curb gun violence. David Hogg, a survivor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who has since become an outspoken advocate for gun control, criticised Mr Cruz. “Man if only there was something you could do to prevent these tragedies,” he tweeted in response. Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, tweeted how Mr Cruz supported regulation of industries other than guns. “After 16 people were killed in a hot air balloon in Lockhart, Cruz authored and passed legislation improving safety rules. After mass shootings, he only offers his prayers,” she tweeted. “That’s not because laws don't work, but because there's no hot air balloon lobby funding his Senate seat.” In recent years, Mr Cruz has opposed measures to curb gun control, including last year when his fellow Senator from Texas John Cornyn engaged in bipartisan negotiations with Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Democrat-turned-Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. The legislation ultimately passed with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voting for it. Last week, Democratic Representative Colin Allred announced he would challenge Mr Cruz in 2024. Mr Allred criticised the lack of action after the shooting. “Eight lives tragically cut short,” he tweeted on Sunday. “As I grieve with my fellow Texans and pray for those who were injured, I won't accept that we are powerless to prevent this. It's our responsibility as lawmakers to help make our communities safer. We must take common sense steps to save lives.” Read More Allen mall shooting – live: Texas outlet worker died saving shoppers from ‘white supremacist’ gunman Hero Texas outlet worker died in mall shooting after risking life to hide customers Texas mall gunman was allegedly removed from military due to ‘mental health concerns’ Tanked Biden pick highlights escalation of dark-money forces Colin Allred, former NFL player, announces Democratic challenge to Ted Cruz in Texas Will the Supreme Court have to answer to ethics rules?

A group of mostly Republican former high-level government officials is calling Gov_ Ron DeSantis' takeover of Disney World’s governing district “severely damaging to the political, social, and economic fabric of the State.”

MrBeast said, 'I’m miserable a lot of times, I have a mental breakdown every other week because I push myself so hard'

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss earned £80,000 ($101,600) in four hours this year during a visit to

One of the mothers who successfully sued a North Carolina charter school over its requirement that girls wear skirts says she always knew she'd prevail

The Supreme Court on Friday sent back to state court an Ohio redistricting case that raised the same, sweeping theory about the "Independent State Legislature" theory that the justices recently rejected in a case arising out of North Carolina.

Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to announce the findings of a two-year investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department, prompted by the death of George Floyd

British lawmakers say the U.K. has underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization

The American consumer is feeling less confident this month, particularly about the future, as expectations persist that interest rates will remain elevated for an extended period

The Biden administration on Thursday asked a federal appeals court for an emergency order halting a lower court

Ginger Zee, who has been an ardent climate advocate, was impressed by Google for bringing forth Eunice Newton Foote's story on her 204th birthday