A wave of outrage has reemerged online in response to a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, which has left at least 14 students and one teacher dead. As prominent figures condemn the massacre and offer prayers for the victims and their families, the tragedy has reignited calls for politicians to urgently enact stricter gun control legislation in the United States.
Tuesday’s tragedy at Robb Elementary School marks the deadliest shooting at an elementary school since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. in 2012 left 20 first graders and six adults dead.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wrote, “Heidi & I are fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde. We are in close contact with local officials, but the precise details are still unfolding. Thank you to heroic law enforcement & first responders for acting so swiftly.”
Responding to his tweet, Ana Navarro-Cardenas wrote, “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 fuck up, right now.”
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 fuck up, right now. https://t.co/ajudOLH7mu
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) May 24, 2022
California Gov. Gavin Newsom emphasized the urgent need for commonsense gun safety, writing “This is preventable. Our inaction is a choice.”
14 children and a teacher dead.
Another shooting. And the GOP won’t do a damn thing about it.
Who the hell are we if we cannot keep our kids safe.
This is preventable. Our inaction is a choice.
We need nationwide, comprehensive, commonsense gun safety NOW.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 24, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James extended his condolences to those directly impacted by the killing, writing “My thoughts and prayers goes out to the families of love ones loss & injured at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX! Like when is enough enough man!!! These are kids and we keep putting them in harms way at school.”
My thoughts and prayers goes out to the families of love ones loss & injured at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX! Like when is enough enough man!!! These are kids and we keep putting them in harms way at school. Like seriously “AT SCHOOL” where it’s suppose to be the safest!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 24, 2022
“Abbott Elementary” creator Quinta Brunson wrote that it is “insane that we just keep living like this. really don’t want to. tired of gun violence.”
insane that we just keep living like this. really don’t want to. tired of gun violence. https://t.co/8gRydJuNqu
— quinta brunson (@quintabrunson) May 24, 2022
Musical artist Finneas emphasized the urgent need for stricter gun control laws in the U.S., saying that “Anyone saying ‘now isn’t the time to talk about gun control’ doesn’t care that kids got fucking murdered today.”
Anyone saying “now isn’t the time to talk about gun control” doesn’t care that kids got fucking murdered today.
— FINNEAS (@finneas) May 24, 2022
See more calls to action below:
The blood of every child that dies of gun violence in this country is on the hands of the Republican Party.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) May 24, 2022
America’s policy when it comes to mass shootings is cross your fingers and if you’re lucky it won’t be you.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) May 24, 2022
Wow wow wow. Cookie and my hearts are so broken right now after hearing the news of the Uvalde, Texas elementary school shooting. We send our condolences to the families that lost a loved one today. My goodness, God bless the families that are grieving🙏🏾💔
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 24, 2022
My heart is with the families and children of Robb Elementary in Texas. Truly horrifying.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) May 24, 2022
The cast & crew is sending all of our love & prayers to Uvalde, Texas right now. Having recently become a father myself, these continued tragedies become increasingly heartbreaking and infuriating. The mythical “good guy with a gun” is once again absent at the critical moment.
— Anson Mount (@ansonmount) May 24, 2022
FUCKING ENOUGH!!!!
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) May 24, 2022
republicans will force you to have your kid but will do absolutely fucking nothing to keep them safe
— Dylan O’Brien (@dylanobrien) May 24, 2022
It takes a monster to kill children. But to watch monsters kill children again and again and do nothing isn’t just insanity—it’s inhumanity.
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) May 24, 2022
Yeah. I’m pretty sure my son won’t be attending school in the US. IT IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS IS THAT HE MIGHT BE SHOT.
— Tom Payne (@justanactor) May 24, 2022
GUN CONTROL NOW!
STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS!— Stephen King (@StephenKing) May 24, 2022
What do you say when 14 children and a teacher have been murdered at school? Language is inadequate to the task of explaining the callousness of a country that does absolutely nothing to address rampant gun violence. There is no culture of life here. It is a culture of control.
— roxane gay (@rgay) May 24, 2022