Letters to the Editor: Readers react to the Uvalde school shootings

Austin American-Statesman
·3 min read

On Tuesday, a gunman overpowered a school officer and entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, killing 19 students and two teachers before being killed by officers. A sampling of readers' reaction follows:

Abbott, Cruz should cancel their

appearances at NRA meeting

The National Rifle Association’s annual meeting is set to be held in Houston starting today, and former President Trump, Gov. Abbott, and Sen. Cruz are scheduled to address the gathering.

I call on Gov. Abbott and Sen. Cruz to do the honorable and respectful thing and cancel their participation. While it is shameful in this environment of gun violence that Texas' Republican-majority leadership upholds irresponsible support of the NRA, if they showed up in Houston, it truly would be evil following the avoidable tragedy in Uvalde.

Frances Thompson, Austin

Texans can lead the charge to

find solutions to gun violence

How many more people need to die before we Americans can unite and find solutions to this horrific gun control problem?

What have we really done differently since Columbine, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech and Austin's University of Texas Tower shooting, to name a few?

I don't know about you but I'm fed up with our system and America's love of guns. I am not against hunters, but I am against guns in the hands of disturbed people.

It has been said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Well folks, we all need to be that change and come together to find solutions as Germany, Japan, Australia and the U.K. have.

Americans are kind and loving people. That goes especially for Texans, who have the most registered weapons in the U.S. I'd love Texans to lead this change.

Kathy Murphy, Austin

In the aftermath of Uvalde tragedy,

here's what will and won't happen

In the wake of the mass shooting tragedy in Uvalde, here’s what will happen:

  • Abbott will gather at the border town with other politicians for photo ops and tell everyone to pray for the victims.

  • He will recognize the law enforcement personnel that helped subdue the shooter (as he should).

  • Money from gun lobbyists will continue to line these politicians' pockets.

Here’s what won’t happen:

  • Any type of action or legislation to actually keep Texas public schoolchildren and school personnel safe.

Make sure you get out and vote this year - change would be nice.

Tip Giles, Austin

America must have the will and

the heart to protects its children

When will the killing stop? When will we admit that guns are killing our children?

I am terrified to think that my precious 2 1/2-year-old Zizi could be in jeopardy in his school in just five years. Or that he will have to go to school in a prison in order to be safe and be able to grow up, and that he will not know a happy, safe childhood.

Please tell me that this country has the will and the heart to make all the necessary changes to protect our children, I beg you!

Mary Mast Toubin, Austin

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman Letters to the Editor: May 27, 2022