British evolutionary biologist and famed atheist Richard Dawkins sparked outrage on Twitter after he mocked Southern accents and the Second Amendment in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting in Las Vegas.

“Durn tootin’, great shootin’. Cool dude sertin’ he’s 2nd Mendment rahts. Hell yeah!” the 76-year-old tweeted Monday morning. “Every country has its psychopaths. In US they have guns.”

The tweet came just hours after a lone gunman opened fire on a crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 515 others attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival.

Mr. Dawkins‘ tweet was met with swift backlash, including by some of his own fans who said it crossed the line.

I agree with your underlying point, but perhaps this moment is not the most appropriate one to express it in this tone? — Gary Ritter Jr (@GDRitter) October 2, 2017

Are you mocking the shooter or the victims @RichardDawkins? With no information on motive and before the blood on the pavement is even dry? https://t.co/qXAASMBcaL — Chadwick Moore (@Chadwick_Moore) October 2, 2017

What the hell is wrong with you? People are grieving here. Shut your ridiculous mouth for 10 minutes. — Dan Sheehan (@LVStories) October 2, 2017

Have you recently suffered a head injury? Your hot take on this is pathetic. — Susan_Wright (@SweetieWalker) October 2, 2017

And in the UK they’re given teaching positions. https://t.co/yVEGLZqcXV — Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) October 2, 2017

Did you seriously just congratulate the murderer on having a “great shooting”? Come on now. https://t.co/rMoe1Shxln — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 2, 2017

And this is an example of how a rational man in some areas is not rational in ALL. So facile. Contact me anytime for a tutorial in the 2A. — Mark Pellegrino (@MarkRPellegrino) October 2, 2017

Speaking as an American atheist who hates guns: shut you hole, Dawkins, you contemptible, puffed up, self-winding grease stain. Fifty people are dead, and you are making jokes about southern accents. https://t.co/Bxn1JMVY9W — Robert Armstrong (@rbrtrmstrng) October 2, 2017

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