Beto O’Rourke interrupts briefing, echoing U.S. debate on guns

UVALDE, Texas — Surrounded by fellow Republicans on a highschool stage, Gov. Greg Abbott was wrapping up his opening remarks concerning the killing of faculty kids and academics in Uvalde, Texas, when Beto O’Rourke strode ahead from his seat within the viewers.

“Gov. Abbott, I’ve one thing to say,” the Democrat difficult Abbott for governor this fall stated Wednesday, pointing a finger at his rival. “The time to cease the subsequent capturing is true now, and you might be 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 stated “sit down!” whereas one lady within the crowd chanted, “Let him converse.” Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin yelled that O’Rourke was a “sick son of a bitch.” Some folks cried.

And with that, the briefing remodeled into an argument much like the one taking place in lots of corners of America after yet one more college capturing that inflicted a surprising loss of life toll — 19 kids and two academics.

Democrats need to discuss enacting restrictions on who can possess a firearm and what sort of weapons ought to be accessible, whereas Republicans say such legal guidelines are meaningless and like to give attention to different points like college safety — or to keep away from the dialogue in any respect.

“We’d like all Texans to on this one second in time put apart their very own agendas, consider someone aside from ourselves, take into consideration the people who find themselves damage,” Abbott stated instantly after O’Rourke exited, his voice rising.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, taking the microphone moments later, insisted it was time now to give attention to the victims and their households, including: “This isn’t a partisan difficulty. This isn’t a political difficulty.”

However for a lot of — together with these in the highschool auditorium — the partisanship and the politics are inescapable. Tuesday’s mass capturing within the small city west of San Antonio, was simply the most recent to happen in Texas lately. After a gunman killed 23 folks in a racist 2019 assault that focused Hispanics at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas lawmakers loosened gun legal guidelines.

Abbott stated Wednesday that he considers the steps the Republican-controlled Legislature took in 2019 to be the “most profound” motion wherever within the U.S. to cease college shootings. He and different GOP officers stated the correct place to focus is on psychological well being and “hardening faculties,” or making them safer, quite than on proscribing weapons.

He referred to as present gun legal guidelines in Chicago, New York and California ineffective.

“I hate to say this, however there are extra people who find themselves shot each weekend in Chicago than there are in faculties in Texas. And we have to understand that individuals who suppose that ‘Effectively, possibly we simply implement harder gun legal guidelines’ goes to unravel that — Chicago and LA and New York disprove that thesis,” he stated.

In the meantime, O’Rourke stood exterior within the parking zone, the place he continued calling for gun management.

“If we do nothing, we’ll proceed to see this,” he stated, “yr after yr, college after college, child after child.”

Residents of Uvalde additionally echoed the 2 sides of the talk.

Ariana Diaz, 17, stated she has buddies within the close-knit group who misplaced siblings and moms. Talking exterior her highschool, the place the information convention was being held, Diaz stated she’d wish to see O’Rourke elected governor. She famous that the shooter was 18 and capable of purchase two weapons.

“It’s not OK,” she stated. “He’s solely 18. He’s not even sufficiently old to buy an alcoholic beverage. He shouldn’t be sufficiently old to buy a gun.”