President Obama criticised for failure to condemn killing of 9 Christians in Oregon

US President Barack Obama pauses while speaking about the shootings in Oregon from the White House in Washington on Oct. 1, 2015. Reuters

US President Obama is drawing scathing criticism for his failure to condemn the killing of nine Christians who were mercilessly gunned down by a mentally disturbed white assailant who barged into Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, on Thursday morning and started shooting.

In his first reaction on the incident at a press conference at the White House on Thursday night, Obama conspicuously never mentioned anything about the Christian victims or called for religious tolerance, according to Fox News.

Indeed, in his statement, the president made it a point to mention that he was politicising the incident as he again made a case for gun control in America.

In his commentary on Fox News, Erick Erickson said, "What is so outrageous is that ... the president decided to politicise the situation after we already knew that the shooter had demanded the victims declare their religion before gunning them down. But the president never mentioned that. He never mentioned religious tolerance."

Erickson noted though that Obama did not politicise the killing of a TV reporter and her cameraman by a black gay man in Virginia last August. He also did not politicise the shooting last July in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where a Muslim radical killed six US servicemen.

Moreover, Obama did not politicise the shooting of a Muslim family in North Carolina last February when it turned out the shooter was a gay-rights supporting atheist, Erickson said.

Although Obama warmly greeted the visiting Pope Francis last week, his administration and its allies in all branches of government continue to harass Christians, the Fox News commentator said.

Erickson suggested that before Obama politicised the death of nine Christians in Roseburg, Oregon, he should have first asked himself: "Why are there more mass shootings under my watch than under George W. Bush's watch?"

"Evil is on the rise. It is real. It is active. It is global. And the president more often than not coddles it instead of confronting it," Erickson said.

related articles
Oregon Umpqua Community College shooting latest update: 15 dead, 20 wounded

Oregon Umpqua Community College shooting latest update: 15 dead, 20 wounded

Oregon Umpqua college shooter asked people to name their religion before firing - report
Oregon Umpqua college shooter asked people to name their religion before firing - report

Oregon Umpqua college shooter asked people to name their religion before firing - report

Nine dead in another US college shooting: \'Somehow this has become routine,\' says Obama
Nine dead in another US college shooting: 'Somehow this has become routine,' says Obama

Nine dead in another US college shooting: 'Somehow this has become routine,' says Obama

Oregon Shooting: \'Are you a Christian?\' gunman asks students before opening fire
Oregon Shooting: 'Are you a Christian?' gunman asks students before opening fire

Oregon Shooting: 'Are you a Christian?' gunman asks students before opening fire

\'Prayers are not enough,\' Obama says after Oregon gunman targeting Christians kills 9
'Prayers are not enough,' Obama says after Oregon gunman targeting Christians kills 9

'Prayers are not enough,' Obama says after Oregon gunman targeting Christians kills 9

Why can\'t America stop the mass shootings?
Why can't America stop the mass shootings?

Why can't America stop the mass shootings?

Oregon gunman enrolled at college he attacked in deadly rampage
Oregon gunman enrolled at college he attacked in deadly rampage

Oregon gunman enrolled at college he attacked in deadly rampage

Families and friends grieve for Oregon college massacre victims
Families and friends grieve for Oregon college massacre victims

Families and friends grieve for Oregon college massacre victims

News
Christian teacher who said being LGBT was a sin loses High Court challenge
Christian teacher who said being LGBT was a sin loses High Court challenge

The High Court has upheld the dismissal of a Christian teacher who told pupils at the London school where she worked that being LGBT was a sin. 

Christian nurse launches legal action after investigation for calling convicted transgender paedophile ‘Mr’ 
Christian nurse launches legal action after investigation for calling convicted transgender paedophile ‘Mr’ 

A Christian senior nurse was investigated and deemed “a potential risk” after she referred to a convicted transgender child sex offender as ‘Mr’. 

AI and the visual interpretation of Scripture: A new era of biblical storytelling?
AI and the visual interpretation of Scripture: A new era of biblical storytelling?

The relationship between faith and storytelling has always been central to Christianity. From the parables of Jesus to grand cinematic adaptations of biblical narratives, each generation has found new ways to bring Scripture to life. 

Report calls for standardisation and specialism in RE
Report calls for standardisation and specialism in RE

An independent review into the national curriculum for schools has highlighted the urgent need for standardised religious education (RE) across the country and greater subject specialism to ensure “mastery in the subject”.