America’s political figures, from Donald Trump to Bernie Sanders, are taking to social media with reactions to the mass shooting that killed at least 14 people in San Bernardino, California, on Wednesday morning local time.

While Republican leaders are sending messages of condolences to the victims and their families, Democrats are once again calling for stricter gun laws.

In an exclusive interview with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell on Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama condemned the “pattern” of gun violence in the United States.

“We don’t know that much yet,” Obama said of the shooting. “The one thing we do know is that we have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere else in the world.”

“For those who are concerned about terrorism, some may be aware of the fact that we have a no-fly list where people can't get on planes . . . but those same people who we don't allow to fly could go into a store right now in the United States and buy a firearm, and there's nothing we can do to stop them. That's a law that needs to be changed.”

Former Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, made a brief statement on Twitter, “I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now.”

Fellow Democratic candidate and Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders, echoed Clinton’s anti-gun-violence sentiments, “Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop.”

Prominent Republican candidates, however, have avoided the gun law discussion, posting only messages of sympathy.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino,” said retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

Former Florida Governor, Jeb Bush, released a similar message:, “Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.”

GOP front-runner, Donald Trump, omitted any mention of the victims or the nation’s gun laws and instead praised the law enforcement officials for their efforts.

“California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!”

The San Bernardino shooting comes less than a week after another attack on a Planned Parenthood centre in Colorado that left three people dead and nine injured.

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