4:53 pm Speaking at the NRA convention in Houston, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz spoke out against Democrats pushing for universal background checks and banning so-called assault rifles.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is using his NRA address in Houston to denounce Democrats who are pushing for universal background checks and banning so-called assault rifles.
“Here’s the problem. Their so-called solutions wouldn’t have stopped these mass killings, and they know it.” pic.twitter.com/8FR6Utim78
– Jeremy Wallace (@JeremySWallace) May 27, 2022
4:49 pm Gov. Greg Abbott focused all of his comments on the NRA convention on the Uvalde shooting.
Abbott was initially scheduled to speak in person at the event, but in the face of growing criticism, he canceled Thursday night. Instead, the governor held a press conference in Uvalde at the same time.
In a pre-recorded video at the convention, Abbott addressed the crowd with a “heavy heart.”
“Just as the laws did not stop the killer, we will not let his evil deeds prevent us from uniting the community he tried to destroy,” he said.
-Cayla Harris
4:13 pm Gov. Greg Abbott tore up UValde police officers for mishandling the mass shooting during a press conference on Friday in the border town at the same time he had previously been summoned to appear at the convention. the Houston NRA.
“Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like Abbott aint for me either. “The information they gave me was partly inaccurate. And I’m absolutely free about it.”
He continued: “My expectation is that as we speak, and every minute ahead, law enforcement will gain the public’s trust by doing exactly what they are supposed to do from now on.”
For the first time since the Uvalde school shooting, he suggested a possible special legislative session on armed violence, according to a report by Jasper Scherer of the Chronicle.
He mainly avoided questions about gun laws and focused on plans to increase mental health care and provide assistance to the families of the victims. The state has started an online foundation to raise donations for Uvalde families, and an anonymous donor has already donated $ 175,000. He said. He added that a mental health hotline is currently in operation and that he can answer calls at 888-690-0799.
He said he hopes Texas will pass more mental health laws, but avoided talking directly about gun legislation.
“The status quo is unacceptable. This crime is unacceptable. We will do nothing about it,” Abbott said. “We’re going to look for the best laws that will be passed to make our schools and communities safer.”
16:10 A dozen Houston doctors in white coats and white coats were among hundreds of protesters on Friday at Discovery Green, where they spoke out against lax gun laws amid an epidemic of gunshot wounds and deaths. fire all over the country.
“I think things are getting worse,” said Dr. Adaeze Okeke, who practices family medicine in Houston.
Okeke sees the collateral damage of armed violence: mothers whose children were killed enter with high blood pressure. “There are lives that are being destroyed every day,” he said.
A group of Houston doctors, mostly family medicine and pediatrics, are here to protest lax gun laws. Recent research shows that armed violence is a worsening public health crisis.
The organizer, Dr. Christina Propst, says she has “faced more” to talk. pic.twitter.com/DFnIzdpcUu
– Julian Gill (@ JulianGi11) May 27, 2022
Dr. Christina Propst, a pediatrician who organized the doctors, said she has been more encouraged to talk about political issues since the pandemic began.
“I think a lot of medical people have had it with people who are spreading false equivalences, false information, false causes, all of that,” he said.
Dr. Heather Haq says advocating for rational gun control “is absolutely on our way” as pediatricians.
“It’s very important for me to have a voice and speak for the children.”
-Julian Gill
3:43 pm Drums sounded with chants of “hey, hello NRA, how many kids you killed today” the building to attend the NRA. event inside.
“There’s a different kind of energy here,” said Nick Cooper, who came to support the protesters with a group of seven drummers.
On the other side of the hill that divides Discovery Green, thousands of people gathered to hear local, state and national figures, including Beto O’Rourke, denounce the UValde massacre and call for a weapons reform.
NEW: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo out of NRA convention: “If Greg Abbott can call 3 special legislative sessions to prevent people from voting, he can call a special session to prevent babies from being killed classrooms “.
– No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) May 27, 2022
Attendees must pass by the protesters to reach the parking lot. They’re getting songs of “shame” from the crowd pic.twitter.com/wmYD0XfzvB
– Sam Gonzalez Kelly (@sgonzalezkelly) May 27, 2022
Behind barricades and rows of police officers, dozens mounted on horseback, on Avenida de las Américas, the crowd of protesters for armed violence was angry. They shouted obscenities at convention attendees, made obscene gestures, and asked if they cared if their children and grandchildren were safe in schools.
Across the street, a small group of congressmen engaged the protesters, greeting, kissing and shouting. At one point, a truck with two Trump flags drove down the street and its driver shouted at protesters.
Lauren Morton, a 20-year-old student at the University of Houston, said it was important that she be there to show that she cares.
“Sometimes it helps to see that you’re not the only one who’s outraged and activated,” he said.
Her friend Susana Jiménez, also a UH student, said she did not think staying in front of the convention center would change her mind.
“If we call the names of the victims, they would care less,” he said. “What politicians are saying is that we have power in numbers. That’s what they’re seeing now. “
– Hannah Dellinger
2:15 pm Beto O’Rourke, a former El Paso congressman, took to the stage Friday with chants of “Beto!” of thousands of Discovery Green viewers.
He began his remarks by talking about how he was “taken home” by the parents of Alithia Ramirez, one of the murdered students in Uvalde, where her birthday balloons were still sticking to the ceiling and her bed was still unmade. .
“I want (his parents) Jess and Ryan and this family to know that their son will always live with us as long as we live. We will pass on their history and name to the generations that follow us,” O’Rourke said.
He then addressed the people attending the NRA convention, saying, “We welcome you to join us in making sure this doesn’t happen again in this country, but now is the time to “Join us for support. We can’t wait for you anymore,” he said.
O’Rourke addressed the ANR leaders and politicians who accept their money separately.
“If you have done something good, it is because you have brought us here together and we are committed. We will defeat you and we will overcome that, “he said.
– Sam González Kelly
13:55 A GoFundMe set up for the survivors of a murdered Professor Uvalde and her husband, who died two days after medical complications, has raised more than $ 2.2 million.
Irma Garcia, a veteran fourth-grade teacher and mother of four, “loved her classmates and died trying to protect them,” says a post by Garcia’s cousin, Debra Austin. Austin also credited Garcia’s nephew, John Martinez, with contributing more than $ 550,000 to the funds.
– Gabrielle Banks
1:40 pm David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland massacre, announced at the center’s protest on Friday a national march scheduled for June 11 in response to the Robb Elementary School massacre, according to the Chronicle Sam Gonzalez Kelly.
Hundreds of protesters have gathered to hear gun organizers, politicians and activists speak out in the wake of the mass shooting.
Parkland survivor David Hogg announces nationwide march on June 11 pic.twitter.com/AB1P4j0ynz
– Sam Gonzalez Kelly (@sgonzalezkelly) May 27, 2022
Guess who just showed up? Rhyme with Shmeto O’Fork pic.twitter.com/Fuc6xNFBi6
– Sam Gonzalez Kelly (@sgonzalezkelly) May 27, 2022
1:30 pm The Texas Ranger who launched a barrage of criticism over his department’s response to the mass shooting in Uvalde is the same man who questioned death row inmate Melissa Lucio until he gave what his lawyers said it was a false confession, according to the filmmaker. who made a documentary about Lucio’s case.
Victor Escalon, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, faced a lot of questions …