In the United States, the dispute over stricter gun laws after the school massacre in Texas broke out openly. At a press conference, Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto O’Rourke had a heated argument. US President Joe Biden again lamented the extent of gun violence and announced a visit to the community. Meanwhile, CNN reported that the shooter had contact with a young German shortly before the crime.
Abbott and other officials for the first time gave detailed information about the bloodbath at Robb Elementary School at the press conference in the small town of Uvalde. A gunman killed 19 children and two teachers there on Tuesday before being shot dead by police. According to investigators, the 18-year-old had bought two assault rifles and ammunition in a shop within a few days in March. He had announced his act on Facebook shortly before, as Abbott said.
Messages sent to Germans
The broadcaster CNN reported that the shooter also sent text messages to a girl from Germany shortly before the massacre. The 15-year-old is said to have been in contact with the shooter since the beginning of May, the broadcaster reported, citing chat logs and a conversation with the teenager from Frankfurt am Main. The 18-year-old also sent videos of himself to the girl. “He looked happy and felt comfortable talking to me,” CNN quoted the girl, who had been in contact with the American via the Facetime chat service and other apps for around two and a half weeks.
Shortly before his fatal attack, he complained to the 15-year-old about his grandmother because she was talking to a US telephone company on his phone. Six minutes later, according to CNN, he wrote: “I just shot my grandmother in the head.” The woman survived. A few seconds later he announced that he was going to attack a school, his last message to the German. “Every time I spoke to him, he never had any plans with his friends,” she said, according to CNN. The 18-year-old’s grandfather told ABC that his grandson didn’t talk much. “He was very calm.”
Debate on stricter gun laws
Meanwhile, the debate over stricter gun laws in the United States continues to boil over. At the press conference in Uvalde, there were verbal failures on Wednesday afternoon (local time). The Democrat O’Rourke – he was in the audience – accused the Republican of not doing anything about rampant gun violence in the United States. The 49-year-old wants to run against Abbott in the next Texas gubernatorial election in November. Abbott did not respond to the allegations, while other officials called O’Rourke to order and asked him to leave the room.
A man called out to O’Rourke, “You’re out of the ordinary, and you’re embarrassing.” Another man savagely berated the Democrat, saying, “I can’t believe you’re some sick bastard trying to make a political issue out of something like this.” O’Rourke left the room after the verbal altercation. “We can do something,” he said afterwards, visibly upset in front of the cameras. Abbott cares more about his political career than the people of Texas. “That’s disturbed,” O’Rourke exclaimed.
“It could have been worse”
In the press conference, Abbott did not attribute these and similar acts to easy access to weapons, but to an increase in mental illness. He also praised the police, saying “it could have been worse”. The 64-year-old is an outspoken supporter of loose gun laws. The gun lobby organization National Rifle Association (NRA) is planning its annual meeting in Texas this Friday. Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, is also scheduled to speak at the Houston meeting.
Many Democrats have long called for substantial tightening of gun laws, but many Republicans vehemently oppose it. “I’m just fed up with what’s going on,” Biden said on Wednesday, once again campaigning for gun law reform in the country. Many changes could make a difference without adversely affecting the Second Amendment.
“It’s against common sense”
The right to own guns in the United States is enshrined in the Constitution. The corresponding passage dates from the 18th century. Biden emphasized that certain weapons did not exist when the Second Amendment was passed. It is not true that an 18-year-old can simply go into a shop to buy weapons of war. “It’s against common sense.” The US President announced that he wanted to travel to Texas with his wife Jill “in the next few days” and meet with families there.
An incident in the Texas city of Richardson also caused a stir on Wednesday. Police were informed of a youth who was walking towards a school with guns. The suspected student was eventually picked up by the police at school – but no weapons were found on him, a statement said. However, officers found guns in the trunk of the suspect’s car in the parking lot. The teenager was arrested – the police did not give any further details.
Source: Nachrichten
