A student who survived the high school shooting that left 17 dead in Florida wants Donald Trump and Congress to 鈥渄o something鈥� about gun control, rather than simply offering thoughts and prayers to the victims of America鈥檚 latest mass shooting.

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The president extended his 鈥減rayers and condolences to the families of the victims鈥� on Wednesday afternoon, after a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., approximately an hour earlier. The shooter, who was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, killed 17 people in the massacre.

鈥淣o child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school,鈥� Trump said in his tweet.

Student Sarah Chadwick, who was at the school during the attack, with a vehement demand for action.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want your condolences you f---ing (piece) of s---, my friends and teachers were shot. Multiple of my fellow classmates are dead,鈥� Chadwick wrote. 鈥淒o something instead of sending prayers. Prayers won鈥檛 fix this. But gun control will prevent it from happening again.鈥�

In a televised address to the nation on Thursday, Trump reiterated his 鈥渄eepest sympathies,鈥� and said he鈥檚 making plans to visit Parkland and meet with families affected by the mass shooting.

Trump also said his administration will work with state and local officials to 鈥渢ackle the difficult issue of mental health.鈥�

鈥淲e are here for you鈥�.We are all joined together as one American family and your suffering is our burden also,鈥� he said.

Many Twitter users joined Chadwick in condemning the flood of 鈥渢houghts and prayers鈥� from right-leaning politicians following the shooting. 鈥淭houghts and prayers have not helped any of the victims in the 29 school shootings this year,鈥� wrote author . 鈥淟et me know when it is a good time to talk about gun control.鈥�

Nevertheless, many politicians 鈥� the majority of them Republican 鈥� tweeted their thoughts and prayers after the shootings.

Trump himself often shares his 鈥渢houghts and prayers鈥� or 鈥減rayers and condolences鈥� with American victims, although he never mentions gun control or the National Rifle Association.

Last month, for instance, he issued a 鈥渢houghts and prayers鈥� tweet following a mass shooting at a high school in Kentucky. The alleged shooter was a 15-year-old accused of killing two students and wounding 18 others.

鈥淢y thoughts and prayers are with Bailey Holt, Preston Cope, their families and all of the wounded victims who are in recovery,鈥� Trump that same day, naming the two victims in his tweet. 鈥淲e are with you!鈥�

Trump also his 鈥渨armest condolences and sympathies鈥� to the victims of the worst mass shooting in American history last October, in Las Vegas.

Trump suggested Thursday morning that the Florida shooting suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, had mental health issues.

鈥淪o many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior,鈥� he tweeted. 鈥淣eighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!鈥�

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the shooting a 鈥渢ragic event鈥� on Thursday, adding: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to work on it in many ways to do something about it.鈥�

Sessions spoke in generalities, and did not address reports that the weapon used in the shooting was acquired legally. Instead, he spoke of gang violence and the threat it poses to children.

鈥淧arents have told me in a gang-infested neighbourhood that children can no longer stand on the bus stops by themselves,鈥� Sessions said. 鈥淭hey take turns, the parents do, of being out there every morning and afternoon. So we鈥檝e got to confront the problem.鈥�

Parkland, Fla., was recently named No. 20 on Neighborhood Scout鈥檚 list of the .

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said on Thursday he will talk with state lawmakers to make sure that individuals with mental illness 鈥渘ever touch a gun.鈥�

鈥淥ur hearts and prayers are with these families,鈥� he added.

The shooting suspect reportedly bragged about his guns on social media, according to students and neighbours. No one has suggested he is tied to a gang in any way.