An officer walks outside of Robb Elementary School, after a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. Source: ALLISON DINNER / Getty
In the hours immediately after a horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Texas Republicans opted to deflect from the clear need for gun reform. Both Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. Ted Cruz doubled down on false narratives about gun reform while passing the buck once again.
When asked to respond to the school shooting at Robb Elementary, Paxton suggested teachers and administrators may need to be armed and prepared to “respond quickly.” Except there’s no evidence that a good guy with a gun mentality would save lives.
According to news reports, the gunman killed at least 21 people, including 19 children. Allegedly the shooter was engaged by law enforcement outside the school and still made his way inside. But Paxton played to the Newsmax and Fox News audiences instead of the families and communities hurting across Texas.
Craig Harrington, research director for Media Matters for America, shared a clip of Paxton on Newsmax saying it makes no sense to restrict “law-abiding citizens” to prevent killings. Imagine prioritizing talking points like this as the death toll continued to rise after a school shooting.
A video shared by CBS reporter Alan showed Cruz using the moment to call for more police in schools, despite evidence showing police presence has not kept students safe. He also objected to “politicizing” the incident. News flash, pointing out the lack of action on gun reform and demanding action is requesting lawmakers do their job.
Source: Texas Republicans Double Down After Another School Shooting
