Tragedy has struck in Texas after a gunman entered an elementary school in Uvalde and open fired, killing 19 children and 2 teachers.
On Tuesday, around Noon, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos Forcably entered the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde country with a firearm, barracaded himself inside, and opened fire at the people inside. The event lasted about 40 minutes to an hour before US Border Patrol managed to neutralize Ramos. But by then 19 children and 2 teachers were shot and killed.
Ramos reportedly drove his truck into a ditch outside of the school. He then equipped an AR-15 style firearm, shot at people outside of a nearby funeral home, and rushed into the school. He fired at two police officers outside, injuring them, before locking themselves into a classroom and opening fire on the teachers and children inside. After some time, Border Patrol agents had arrived and were attempting to breach the room. AP reports that they had difficulty breaching and eventually needed a teacher to unlock the door. He was then shot dead by the agents.
Before the shooting, Ramos had shot and injured his grandmother. A neighbor reported hearing shots and seeing Ramos rush out of the house and speeding away in a truck in a panic, before seeing the grandmother exit the house wounded. The neighbors called for emergency help and the grandmother lived.
Currently, the motive for the attack remains unknown. Ramos had no history of mental illness, criminal behavior, bullying, or anything that would prompt such an act. The rifle was purchased legally the week before. Ramos did declare his actions via social media as they happened, though they were simple declarations of what he was doing and about to do, without clarity on why.
Social Response
This has been the worst mass shooting in the United States since Sandy Hook in 2012. It’s made even worse that a strong majority of those murdered were young children. This has one again brought up the main political discussion of gun laws. Many folks are calling for more regulations to firearms sales, using this as an example of what happens otherwise. With a number of states recently signed into law that anyone with a firearm is allowed to have a concealed carry without a permit, there’s an even higher fear of events like this happening again. This is made even worse by the fact that just last month, a similar situation happened.
Others believe this is more of a mental health issue than one of firearm regulations, calling for more public funding to be put toward things like therapy programs and other mental health services.
Another problem that arose during the event was the inaction of police forces on scene. Onlookers were reportedly shouting at police to go into the building and stop the shooter, and grew frustrated when they didn’t after some time. Juan Carranza, who was there at the time and had a daughter inside, stated that the police were “unprepared” and remained outside during the entire event.
Regardless of what may or may not be the issue, there is no denying that there’s an issue with mass shootings in the US. We previously posted an article titled How Your Kids Can Stay Safe During a School Shooting, and if that isn’t a tremendously depressing idea in and of itself, the article is 4 years old. Something needs to change. If not gun regulations, then mental health options. If not that, then better police force training to respond and suppress these events. Until SOMETHING changes, innocent people, children even, will continue to die.