Orlando nightclub shooting news: Texas governor criticized for Bible verse Twitter post

Suzette Gutierrez Cachila Monday, June 13, 2016

The lieutenant governor of Texas is taking the heat for an ill-timed tweet that was posted on Sunday, June 12, just hours after the shooting at an Orlando gay club, which left 50 people dead.

Texas state Republican Senator Dan Patrick speaks during a meeting of the state Senate in Austin, Texas July 12, 2013 | Reuters/Mike Stone

As the nation mourns for the tragic loss of lives from what many consider to be the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tweeted at around 7 a.m. a photo with the verse Galatians 6:7, which reads, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows," Chron reported.

After 30 minutes, another tweet was posted. It reads from Psalm 37:39, which says, "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble."

Patrick took flak for the tweets, which many considered as insensitive and anti-LGBT in light of the recent mass shooting at Pulse nightclub. The same posts were said to have been shared on Facebook as well, according to The Texas Tribune.

Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa addressed Patrick and asked him to "apologize immediately" for the social media posts.

"Make this right. We are better than this," he said, as reported by Chron.

Patrick's representatives said the lieutenant governor often posts Bible verses especially on Sundays. His posts are said to be pre-scheduled, and Sunday's tweet was not a reaction to the Pulse nightclub shooting.

Patrick's spokesperson Allan Blakemore said the tweet was "not done in response to ... last night's tragedy." Blakemore explained that the tweets had been scheduled as early as Tuesday last week. He said the lieutenant governor is "stunned and saddened" by what happened in Orlando.

"We regret the unfortunate timing of these posts and ask everyone to join us in praying for the people of Orlando in this awful time," Blakemore said in a statement.

The social media posts have since been deleted.

Patrick has openly spoken against transgender people being allowed to use bathrooms based on their gender identity. On his website, a petition for campaigning against the transgender bathroom policy can be found, Daily Mail reported.