UVALDE, Texas — Surrounded by fellow Republicans on a excessive school stage, Gov. Greg Abbott was wrapping up his opening remarks concerning the killing of school kids and academics in Uvalde, Texas, when Beto O’Rourke strode ahead from his seat within the viewers.
“Gov. Abbott, I have something to say,” the Democrat difficult Abbott for governor this fall mentioned Wednesday, pointing a finger at his rival. “The time to stop the next shooting is right now, and you are doing nothing.”
A mixture of boos and cheers rose up from the gang as the previous congressman and 2020 presidential candidate briefly spoke, then was escorted from the room. Sen. Ted Cruz, standing behind Abbott, shook his head and mentioned “sit down!” whereas one girl within the crowd chanted, “Let him speak.” Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin yelled that O’Rourke was a “sick son of a bitch.” Some individuals cried.
And with that, the briefing reworked into an argument just like the one taking place in lots of corners of America after yet one more school shooting that inflicted a stunning dying toll — 19 kids and two academics.
Democrats need to discuss enacting restrictions on who can possess a firearm and what kind of weapons needs to be out there, whereas Republicans say such legal guidelines are meaningless and like to focus on different points like school safety — or to keep away from the dialogue in any respect.
“We need all Texans to in this one moment in time put aside their own agendas, think of somebody other than ourselves, think about the people who are hurt,” Abbott mentioned instantly after O’Rourke exited, his voice rising.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, taking the microphone moments later, insisted it was time now to focus on the victims and their households, including: “This is not a partisan issue. This is not a political issue.”
But for a lot of — together with these within the excessive school auditorium — the partisanship and the politics are inescapable. Tuesday’s mass shooting within the small city west of San Antonio was simply the newest to happen in Texas lately. After a gunman killed 23 individuals in a racist 2019 assault that focused Hispanics at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas lawmakers loosened gun legal guidelines.
Abbott mentioned Wednesday that he considers the steps the Republican-controlled Legislature took in 2019 to be the “most profound” motion anyplace within the U.S. to cease school shootings. He and different GOP officers mentioned the correct place to focus is on psychological well being and “hardening schools,” or making them safer, slightly than on proscribing weapons.
He referred to as present gun legal guidelines in Chicago, New York and California ineffective.
“I hate to say this, but there are more people who are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas. And we need to realize that people who think that ‘Well, maybe we just implement tougher gun laws’ is going to solve that — Chicago and LA and New York disprove that thesis,” he mentioned.
Abbott’s declare shouldn’t be supported by federal well being knowledge. California and New York constantly register decrease charges of firearms deaths than Texas, and have among the many lowest per capita charges of firearms deaths within the nation, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even with the violence in Chicago that Abbott cites, Illinois too posts a decrease firearms dying charge than Texas.
Meanwhile, O’Rourke stood outdoors within the car parking zone, the place he continued calling for gun management.
Breaking News Alerts
As it occurs
Be knowledgeable of breaking news because it occurs and notified about different don’t-miss content material with our free news alerts.
“If we do nothing, we will continue to see this,” he mentioned, “year after year, school after school, kid after kid.”
Residents of Uvalde additionally echoed the 2 sides of the talk.
Ariana Diaz, 17, mentioned she has buddies within the close-knit group who misplaced siblings and moms. Speaking outdoors her excessive school, the place the news conference was being held, Diaz mentioned she’d prefer to see O’Rourke elected governor. She famous that the shooter was 18 and in a position to purchase two weapons.
“It’s not OK,” she mentioned. “He’s only 18. He’s not even old enough to purchase an alcoholic beverage. He should not be old enough to purchase a gun.”
Laura Ligocky, 41, mentioned that as a mom the shooting was “gut wrenching” however she doesn’t see restrictions on weapons as an answer.
“Everybody wants gun control, and I don’t think it’s helping,” she mentioned, within the car parking zone the place O’Rourke was calling for restrictions on firearms. “I think it’s making matters worse.”
Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press reporter Jake Bleiberg contributed from Dallas.