Stephen King criticises ‘apologists for murder’ after Maine shooting

Law enforcement outside Schemengee’s Bar and Grille in Lewiston, Maine, after a mass shooting (Robert F Bukaty/AP)

Author Stephen King has criticised “apologists for murder” following the mass shooting in his home state of Maine in the US that left at least 16 people dead.

The prolific writer, referred to as “the king of horror”, whose works include The Shining, It, Misery and Carrie, criticised the easy access to “rapid-fire killing machines”.