Murphy criticizes anti-abortion lawmakers following Michigan school shooting

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) condemned his anti-abortion Republican colleagues on Tuesday following several speeches that were given on the Senate floor against abortions, accusing them of hypocrisy in light of the fatal school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan.

Murphy wrote on Twitter that he had been driving home, but then thought of the speeches on the "sanctity of life" that Republicans had given on Tuesday. Numerous Republican lawmakers gave speeches condemning abortion in anticipation of the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in a case that could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade.

"This concern for 'life' apparently doesn't extend to the kids who were shot today in a school in Michigan," wrote Murphy. "So I turned the car around, and went to the Senate floor."

Speaking on the Senate floor, Murphy expressed anger at how accepted gun violence has become in the U.S. Three people, all believed to be students at Oxford High School, were killed in the shooting and at least eight others were injured. The suspect, a 15-year-old sophomore, has been apprehended.

"I understand that my Republican colleagues have very strong views on issues related to abortion. But I listened to my Republican colleagues come down here one after another today and talk about the sanctity of life, the very moment that moms and dads in Michigan were being told their kids weren't coming home because they were shot at school due to a country that is accepted gun violence due to Republicans fealty to the gun lobby," Murphy said.

"It happens here in America because we choose to let it happen. We're not unlucky. This is purposeful This is a choice made by the United States Senate to sit on our hands and do nothing," he continued, saying that lawmakers were sending "a silent message of endorsement" to potentially dangerous individuals by not acting to prevent gun violence.

"I'm beyond my tipping point," said Murphy.

"Please, I beg my colleagues, if you're going to come down here and talk about the sanctity of life, explain to the American people why the gun lobby matters more than the safety of our children who are walking into school every day fearing for their life," he added.

Shortly after his speech, Murphy appeared on MSNBC's "All In with Chris Hayes," and explained that he had been driving home when he became "furious" at the apparent lack of concern his Republican colleagues had for the "sanctity of life" after birth.

"I'm at my wits end about why Republicans' concern for life seems so limited when the choices we could make to try to protect our kids are so obvious, are so politically popular, are so possible," Murphy said to Hayes.