Apple

Tim Cook reacts to the Dayton and El Paso shootings, stops short of calling for gun control

by Daniel Petrov / Aug 05, 2019, 7:44 AM

Tim Cook reacts to the Dayton and El Paso shootings, stops short of calling for gun control

The CEO of America's richest company has been ever more vocal on issues of national importance lately. After coming out for LGBT rights with a dedicated press release and givign stump speeches to the White House administration on the trade and tariff dispute with China, he is now heavily reacting about the latest "made in USA" mass shootings craziness over the weekend.

On Saturday morning, August 3rd, about 20 people were massacred with an AK-47 in an El Paso Walmart, and Apple's Tim Cook immediately tweeted a reaction mentioning Apple's Cielo Vista campus.

Devastated to hear of today’s shooting in Texas. We pray for the victims and their families. Our team at Apple Cielo Vista and the entire El Paso community are close to our hearts, and we’re grateful to the first responders on the scene.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 3, 2019

Shortly after this, a deranged shooter went and shot nine people dead in downtown Dayton, Ohio, and only the heavy police presence in the area prevented him from mowing down more with an "assault-style rifle," according to local law enforcement. Despite that Apple has no campus presence in Dayton, Tim Cook interjected here as well:

I'm heartbroken. Praying for the victims and their families in Dayton. Grateful for the speed and courage of the first responders.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 4, 2019

Apple's CEO didn't stop here, though. Right after his first two "thoughts and prayers" comments, he threw himself in the mass shootings debate ring with what seems to be a call for a bipartisan effort in passing much needed legislation that would curb the likelihood of such incidents, though he stopped just short of mentioning "gun control" in one form or another:

I'm heartbroken about what's happening in my country. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. It's time for good people with different views to stop finger pointing and come together to address this violence for the good of our country.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 4, 2019

By saying he is "heartborken" and urging legislative changes, Tim Cook and, tangentially, Apple as a company, are taking a side in the high-stakes debate what to do about this unprecedented rise in American mass shootings. The move is not unprecedented - Apple has taken a firm stance in defense of user privacy, for instance - but for the first time it comes about something that is not directly related to its products or services.

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30 Comments

1. Fred3

Posts: 587; Member since: Jan 16, 2018

I agree with Tim Apple but it's hard to get both sides to agree on the same issue when they're both trying to fight or lock each other up

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 7:54 AM 8

2. bucknassty

Posts: 1373; Member since: Mar 24, 2017

Well... gun control doesn't have to mean taking away guns... the second amendment protects us from a corrupt government... What we need is to understand the value of human life! damn what happened to love thy neighbor no matter next door, next state, next country... life isn't just a video game that can be reset, some people are blurring the lines... and trust me i'm not blaming the video game industry. as a whole everyone needs some prayer and compassion no matter what religion, everyone needs to know that you matter and mean something and are worth more than you know.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 8:07 AM 5

3. Rocket

Posts: 706; Member since: Feb 24, 2014

Well, the only responsible person is Trump, he's promoting too much hate and racism in the US.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 8:18 AM 7

10. dumpster666

Posts: 99; Member since: Mar 07, 2019

trump is also responsible for your lack of brain cells

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 9:05 AM 8

12. Vokilam

Posts: 1386; Member since: Mar 15, 2018

Tell me exact words that trump said to promote hate and racism? Offering people that hate this country and what it stands for to go back to theirs is satire - not racism. The most amount of racism promoted is liberal media. CNN is the biggest baiter when it comes to racism. You point your finger at the wrong people.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 10:48 AM 9

16. BearHug

Posts: 29; Member since: Jan 27, 2017

I guess before Trump, there weren't any mass shootings? Or perhaps the Dayton shooter who stated he'd vote for Warren (Blue) was a MAGA-head.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 11:32 AM 5

4. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3166; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Gun control is not about “taking away your guns” as the NRA loves to parrot. It’s about keeping guns away from those who have no business having them in the first place. I’ve been an owner of multiple guns for over 30 years and have never had to raise any of them to another person. My first gun purchase was delayed by a few weeks in the aftermath of Reagan being shot. I didn’t suffer irreparable harm from it, why can’t we have a federal “cooling off” period like many states already do? Nobody died because the assault weapons ban denied them the opportunity to own a TEC-9. Come on people.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 8:22 AM 9

6. middlehead

Posts: 467; Member since: May 12, 2014

Tell that to the politicians who are explicitly saying they want to confiscate all guns. Nobody who cares about their rights should give an inch as long as those nutjobs have a voice.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 8:30 AM 6

31. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3166; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Name one politician who has openly stated they want to confiscate all guns. I'll wait.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 5:00 PM 1

13. Fred3

Posts: 587; Member since: Jan 16, 2018

I'm a gun owner as well but with the NRA putting fear on the left and being the main unidentified money source behind doors this will continue until someone is clever enough to expose them.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 10:49 AM 0

17. BearHug

Posts: 29; Member since: Jan 27, 2017

The major issue is that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." You have no idea how the definition for "those who have no business having them in the first place" would change over time. As middlehead stated, there are politicians (parroting several voters) who explicitly say they want to confiscate all guns. You give in to gun control, however minute, and sooner than later, I can bet they'd keep asking for more until confiscation is the only option left on the table. Give an inch, take a mile. Want examples, look no further than Feminism and PETA. Both started with demands that were reasonable and everyone could get behind. Today they've become euphemisms for radical nutjobs, because apparently if you don't give in to their newest demands, however off-putting; then you must have time-jumped from the Middle Ages.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 11:49 AM 3

5. ssallen

Posts: 214; Member since: Oct 06, 2017

The author of this article is reading what they want to hear not what he actually said. He said, "address this violence" which is about as far away from picking a side as possible. Other possible interpretations based upon the readers personal views could mean: "strong mental health initiatives" or "armed guards in every school". All of those would qualify as bi-partisan initiatives. Quit trying to deitize the guy who has more photos of him shaking hands with Trump then most leaders of small countries.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 8:26 AM 5

7. Donbenie

Posts: 260; Member since: Aug 04, 2013

Waiting for the next fool to trumpet "Guns don't kill people..

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 8:32 AM 1

14. Vokilam

Posts: 1386; Member since: Mar 15, 2018

Cars kill more people than guns, people without holding a gun kill more people than people holding a gun. Guns protect more people than they kill. Enjoy!

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 10:51 AM 6

20. AbhiD

Posts: 857; Member since: Apr 06, 2012

Flawed logic. People killed by cars are due to "accidents". They aren't done on purpose. While anyone involved in mass shootings goes out with the intention to kill as many people as he/she can. It's basically mass MURDER! Car accidents aren't Murders. Got the difference? Enjoy!

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 12:15 PM 3

22. MsPooks

Posts: 246; Member since: Jul 08, 2019

The car didn't kill anyone, accident or not. The individual behind the wheel who caused the accident did. You're actually correct in the second half of your statement though: ANYONE WITH THE INTENTION TO KILL. In other words: PEOPLE kill people. There isn't a gun, in the history of guns, that decided to go out one morning and start killing anyone. Not...a...single...one, and I dare you to show otherwise.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 1:56 PM 4

26. AbhiD

Posts: 857; Member since: Apr 06, 2012

Individual behind the wheel wasn't out to murder people. Due to his/her lack of awareness or the fault of victim itself, the accident might happen. That why it's called a damn "accident" in the 1st place. That's not how people get murdered by weapons. Your reply itself is based on a rocky start

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 3:48 PM 0

25. Vokilam

Posts: 1386; Member since: Mar 15, 2018

Bombs concealed inside cars, terrorists mowing down people in trucks, road rage, police chases is all over the world. Why aren’t we banning cars? Banning guns only removes weapons from law abiding citizens - there will be zero weapons turned in by criminals. ZERO!

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 3:17 PM 0

27. AbhiD

Posts: 857; Member since: Apr 06, 2012

How many people have been murdered in US due to all those factors you mentioned? Remember i am talking about Murders, not unintentional accident numbers. And how many people have been murdered due to guns? Count it and Enjoy!?

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 3:51 PM 1

36. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

Cars kill more people than guns? In 2017 37.133 were killed in a car accident. 39.673 were killed with a gun.

posted on Aug 07, 2019, 3:09 AM 0

19. MsPooks

Posts: 246; Member since: Jul 08, 2019

A gun has never killed a single person.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 12:11 PM 4

28. AbhiD

Posts: 857; Member since: Apr 06, 2012

But a gun is easy tool to murder many many people at once as compared to say a knife or vehicle or something else. Even a bomb hasn't killed a single person. Why not have them legalized too in USA? And enjoy dozens and hundreds of people blowing up at once?

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 3:54 PM 2

8. LiveFaith

Posts: 493; Member since: Jul 04, 2015

Awww, we have been asking for Tim Cook's opinion forever. I hope he can pontificate his superior wisdom to us all more and more. Elitist billionaire San Fransicans have a keen sense of everyone's needs in America and beyond.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 8:33 AM 5

11. cmdacos

Posts: 4333; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. " Please share this message with your design and UX teams.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 10:04 AM 4

15. Vokilam

Posts: 1386; Member since: Mar 15, 2018

Yet you keep posting the same damn posts on EVERY Apple article several times a day! Please share this message with your self.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 10:52 AM 4

18. MsPooks

Posts: 246; Member since: Jul 08, 2019

Insanity is continuing to make yourself a sitting duck when somebody shows up with a gun. The bad guys will ALWAYS find a way to hurt people. You're either prepared with superior firepower...or you're dead.

posted on Aug 05, 2019, 12:09 PM 4

33. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3166; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

El Paso is an open-carry community and there were many armed people in that Walmart, but none of them did squat. Why? Because it takes cojones to pull the trigger on another man. A lot of tough-talk here but I'm guessing not one of these "bad hombres" would have done sh*t either.