‘Not an immigrant’: Republicans anxious as they are unable to blame minorities for the South Carolina shooting

A mass shooting at a well-known bar on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, has left many in shock. The incident, which occurred past midnight on Sunday at Willie’s Bar and Grill, resulted in 4 deaths and at least 20 injuries, with the count for the latter expected to rise as investigations continue. The assailant remains at large for now.

On Monday morning, South Carolina and the entire country woke up to news of a tragic event that claimed many lives and affected numerous others. As authorities searched for the perpetrator, some government officials offered their condolences to those impacted. However, despite South Carolina’s Republican majority, many steered clear of speaking about the incident. Among the few Republicans to comment was South Carolina’s 1st congressional district Representative Nancy Mace. Her post on X read:

“COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.”

Check out South Carolina gun regulations.

No state permit is required to purchase rifles, shotguns or handguns.

No registration requirement for firearms in general.

South Carolina allows open carry and concealed carry without a permit for persons 18 years and older who are…

— Trump: Narcissistic conman doomed to fail (@SeditionistGop) October 12, 2025

While some supported Mace’s message, others criticised her hypocrisy for not addressing gun control issues, which her party and President Trump have largely ignored in recent years. Some also called her out for the messaging in her X post, suggesting that if the shooter had been from a minority community, she might have issued a different narrative.

The same critics pointed out that other Republicans, who remained silent, would likely demand National Guard deployment if this had happened in a Democratic-majority state, aligning with their recent focus on seeking control of places in the United States. One person on X rightly stated:

“BREAKING: 4 people killed, 16 injured after mass shooting at St. Helena Island, South Carolina restaurant. Not an immigrant. Not Transgender. Red State.”

Others also echoed a similar sentiment while noting that coverage surrounding the incident was starkly limited, while highlighting that no minority involvement could be one of the reasons behind the same.

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