Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is facing backlash for his pretty tone-deaf Twitter response to the two mass shootings that took place over the weekend.
The popular author and science communicator sent out a tweet on Sunday in reference to the mass shooting deaths in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, suggesting the tragic deaths are small in comparison to deaths from other natural causes and accidents.
In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) August 4, 2019
On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…
500 to Medical errors
300 to the Flu
250 to Suicide
200 to Car Accidents
40 to Homicide via Handgun
Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.
“In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings.
On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…
500 to Medical errors
300 to the Flu
250 to Suicide
200 to Car Accidents
40 to Homicide via HandgunOften our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.” deGrasse tweeted.
Many people felt that the scientist’s tweet was “poor timing” and ill-fitting by comparing the loss of 34 people over the weekend to deaths caused by illness and accidents. Some felt Tyson was downplaying the role gun violence plays in American society and the trend in recent violence against humanity.
“Cold take, Neil. 200+ Americans died from gun violence in the past 48 hours,” author and gun control activist Shannon Watts responded.
“No one person caused 500 medical errors. No one person caused 200 vehicle deaths. No one person committed 200 suicides. No one person killed 40 people with a handgun. One asshole with a high powered rifle killed 20 people in El Paso. ” another tweeted.
No one person caused 500 medical errors.
— Sam Newell Ω (@BFranklin2017) August 5, 2019
No one person caused 200 vehicle deaths.
No one person committed 200 suicides.
No one person killed 40 people with a handgun.
One asshole with a high powered rifle killed 20 people in El Paso.
See the fucking difference.
deGrasse’ controversial tweet comes just days after he returned to television following accusations of inappropriate behavior.
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