Citizens across the nation took to social media Tuesday to grieve the latest mass shooting, which left at least 18 students and three adults dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the AP reported. Public figures are using their platforms to once again sound the call for gun control in America and condemn anti-gun control politicians and lobbyists.
Only a week and a half has transpired since 10 people were murdered and three were injured by a white supremacist gunman in Buffalo, New York. The Texas tragedy marks the largest mass shooting at an elementary school after the Sandy Hook in 2012. The Newtown, Connecticut, shooting left 26 people dead, including 20 children.
President Biden addressed the nation on Tuesday evening from the White House. “Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God’s name is our backbone, the courage to do more and then stand up to the lobbies?” he said during his remarks. “It’s time to turn this pain into action, for every parent, for every citizen in this country. We have to make it clear to every elected official in this country that it’s time to act.”
“Enough is enough,” said Vice President Kamala Harris in a speech earlier in the afternoon. “Enough is enough! As a nation, we have to have the courage to take action and understand the nexus between what makes for reasonable and sensible public policy, to ensure something like this never happens again.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy issued an impassioned plea from the floor of the Senate, repeatedly stressing, “What are we doing? Why are we here?”
Murphy was joined by scores of politicians and other public figures decrying the tragedy as the result of Republican inaction.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, in his media conference with reporters in Dallas for the NBA’s West finals playoff series, did not take questions and instead lashed out in a heated speech.
“When are we going to do something?” an emotional Kerr yelled, before gritting his teeth and continuing. “I’m tired, I’m so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I’m so tired of the excuses. I’m sorry. I’m tired of the moments of silences. Enough.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom took to Twitter to call for “nationwide, comprehensive, commonsense gun safety NOW.”
“Another shooting. And the GOP won’t do a damn thing about it,” he wrote. “Who the hell are we if we cannot keep our kids safe. This is preventable. Our inaction is a choice.”
“Just to be clear f–k you @tedcruz you f–ing baby killer,” wrote Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego.
CNN’s Ana Navarro-Càrdenas also directed her reaction toward the Texas senator. “If you are one of the spineless cowards held hostage by the gun-lobby and have been an obstacle to sensible gun reform, just shut the f–k up, right now,” she replied to the senator’s tweet about the shooting.
Former Texas congressman and current gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke gave his condolences to his home state, writing, “Our broken hearts are with Uvalde.”
National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman reacted with a poem. “Schools scared to death. / The truth is, one education under desks, / Stooped low from bullets; / That plunge when we ask / Where our children / Shall live / & how / & if,” she posted on Twitter.
Stacey Abrams, who is running for governor in Georgia, directed her remarks towards the families of Uvalde, writing that “we weep with you in your grief and ask for God’s solace for your unfathomable pain.”
The post continued, “May your angels be lifted up to spite the darkness that took them. And may the light of reason and compassion save the lives of others in their namesake. #Uvalde”
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