Sen. Schumer slams Republicans for blocking gun restrictions after Texas school massacre: ‘Imagine if it were your kid’
Michael McAuliff, Dave Goldiner
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) angrily lashed out at Republicans for ignoring pleas for gun control even as the nation was rocked by another bloody mass school shooting.
The powerful Democrat accused GOP lawmakers on Wednesday of being in the “vise-like grip” of the National Rifle Association and blocking common-sense measures that could prevent more massacres like the killing of 21 people, including 19 children in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday.
“Too many [Republicans] care more about the NRA than about the families who grieve the victims of gun violence,” Schumer said.
“Imagine if it were your kid, your grandkid,” he said. “Could you ever forgive yourself? Put yourself in the shoes of these parents for once.”
Families gather and hug outside the Willie de Leon Civic Center where grief counseling will be offered in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022.
Families gather and hug outside the Willie de Leon Civic Center where grief counseling will be offered in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. (ALLISON DINNER/)
Underlining Schumer’s point, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) expressed condolences and even prayers for the victims but did not mention the possibility of new restrictions on guns, which could have prevented the attack by a teenager with reported mental health issues.
“Because of this maniac, nineteen of those kids never came home,” McConnell said.
Other Republicans who oppose gun control said they would consider new funding for mental health and maybe even so-called “red flag laws” to bar mentally ill people from buying guns after the latest school massacre.
A welcome sign is seen outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022.
A welcome sign is seen outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. (ALLISON DINNER/)
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a staunch supporter of gun rights, said the only way to prevent more mass killings is to expand mental health treatment, not restrictions on gun owners.
“It’s a people problem. It’s not a gun problem,” Tuberville said. “You can’t do away with all the guns. ... We have to start treating people.”
Kladys Castellón prays during a vigil for the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Law enforcement officers speak together outside of Robb Elementary School following the mass shooting on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. According to reports, 19 students and 2 adults were killed, with the gunman fatally shot by law enforcement.
A person sits next to a vehicle outside of the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. According to reports, 19 students and 2 adults were killed, with the gunman fatally shot by law enforcement.
Mourners attend a vigil at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. According to reports, 19 students and 2 adults were killed before the gunman was fatally shot by law enforcement.
People pray at Sacred Heart Church Tuesday evening, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas after a gunman earlier in the day entered Robb Elementary School and killed multiple children and adults.
The home of suspected gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, is cordoned off with police tape on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. According to reports, Ramos killed 19 students and 2 adults in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School before being fatally shot by law enforcement.
Law enforcement work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School where 21 people, including 19 children, were killed on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. The suspected gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was reportedly killed by law enforcement.
The archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, right, comforts families outside the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Members of the community gather at the City of Uvalde Town Square for a prayer vigil in the wake of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. According to reports, 19 students and 2 adults were killed before the gunman was fatally shot by law enforcement.
An officer walks outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022.
Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
A law enforcement officer speaks with people outside Uvalde High School after shooting a was reported earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement, and other first responders, gather outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
A law enforcement officer speaks with people outside Uvalde High School after shooting a was reported earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel stand next to an armored vehicle outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Emergency personnel gather near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
A law enforcement officer helps people cross the street at Uvalde Memorial Hospital after a shooting was reported earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel, including the FBI, gather near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement personnel walk outside Uvalde High School after shooting a was reported earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Law enforcement, and other first responders, gather outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
A law enforcement officer helps people cross the street at Uvalde Memorial Hospital after a shooting was reported earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
People react outside the Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
People wait outside of the Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Police walk near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
People sit on the curb outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022.
A welcome sign is seen outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) stressed that she supports “red flag laws” like those in Maine that allow gun rights to be limited if a person is judged by a doctor to be a danger.
“One thing that many of us have supported is to have some sort of red flag law ... which requires due process and a medical professional to be involved,” Collins said. “That’s certainly something we should look at.”
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), whose wife Gabrielle Giffords was nearly killed by a crazed gunman, pulled no punches when asked about GOP’s refusal to act.
“It’s f---ing nuts to do nothing about this,” Kelly said.
