The two men running for governor of Texas this November were angry over gun control on Wednesday as the second mass shooting in America in two weeks rekindled the debate over the use of firearms in the country.
Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic nominee for governor, was ousted by a press conference hosted by incumbent President Greg Abbott after accusing him of “doing nothing” to curb gun violence in the state.
The public dispute came during a day of angry exchanges between Republicans and Democrats following the shooting at Rob Elementary School in the Texas town of Uwalde, which killed 19 children and two adults.
But proponents of gun control admit they are unlikely to mobilize the sense of outrage provoked by the killings into meaningful federal law.
Abbott convened a press conference to provide additional information about the shooting, telling reporters that the killer had no known history of mental health problems and called on Texans to support the families of the victims.
But O’Rourke cut him off the floor, saying, “You’re not doing anything. . . That’s completely predictable. “
“It’s up to you until you decide to do something different. This will continue to happen, “O’Rourke said after being removed from the front of the room. “Someone has to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed just as they were killed in Uwalde yesterday.
Tuesday’s massacre was the second in 11 days after a gunman killed 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, on May 14.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday joined other Democrat leaders in urging Republicans to sign tougher gun control laws, saying: “It’s time for action. We are here today with the same goal to come together and say enough. ” He said he would visit Uwalde in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate majority, has begun the so-called Rule 14 process to pave the way for a quick Senate vote on two bills already passed by the House of Representatives that will expand arms buyer inspections. Both bills will force those who want to buy weapons at arms shows or online to pass inspections and give the FBI more time to investigate potential buyers.
However, Sumer warned that there was little chance of Republicans enough to support the bills to clear the majority of 60 votes needed to circumvent a fake person.
Sumer told the senators: “My Republican colleagues can now work with us. I know this is a weak prospect – very thin, too thin. We have been burned so many times before. But it’s so important. “
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He added: “There are some who want this body to quickly pass sensible legislation on weapons safety. . . I believe that accountability votes are important. But unfortunately, this is not a case of the American people not knowing where their senators are. They know.”
Previous attempts to tighten background controls have stalled in the Senate after failing to secure enough support to bypass the filibuster.
Dick Durbin, a Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would schedule a hearing on gun violence, but only after the memorial break this weekend.
Senate Republicans have suggested they are unlikely to change their vote this time. Ted Cruz, a Texas senator, on Tuesday accused Democrats of trying to politicize the issue and instead called for armed law enforcement to be deployed in schools.
Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, Mitch McConnell, the highest-ranking Republican in the chamber, did not mention the possibility of stricter gun laws. Instead, he quotes the Bible, saying, “The Lord is near to the afflicted.
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