A day after the tragic elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke confronted Texas Governor Greg Abbott during a press conference. Gov. Abbott, alongside Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, gave comments and updates to a group inside the meeting room. O’Rourke delivered his opinion after Abbott finished his briefing, walking up to the stage and chastising Abbott for his accused lack of gun control.
The shooting, which occurred on Tuesday at Robb Elementary, left at least 21 dead and others injured. Shooter Salvador Ramos, 18, was inside the school for reportedly over an hour before law enforcement fatally shot him. Ramos had an online presence, which according to witnesses, was full of threats and boasting of his rifle purchase.
However, Beto O’Rourke was more concerned with the topic of gun control and was not afraid to speak his mind. After coming up from the third row in the conference, he began by saying, “You are doing nothing… you are offering up nothing.” He continued, saying. “You said this was not predictable. This was totally predictable when you choose not to do anything.”
Abbott and his partners onstage were quick to tell O’Rourke off.
“Sit down and don’t play this stunt.” Sen. Cruz said.
“I can’t believe that you’re a sick, son of a b**** that would come to a deal like this to make a political issue,” added Mayor McLaughlin. O’Rourke has used his platform previously to advocate for increased gun control in Texas.
O’Rourke was escorted out, to which he said, “This will continue to happen. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state, or they will continue to be killed just like they were killed in Uvalde yesterday.” According to the Texas Tribune, some onlookers supported O’Rourke’s comments and wanted him to speak.
“There’s no words that anybody shouting can come up here and do anything to heal these broken hearts,” Gov. Abbott concluded.