Biden Reacts To Horrific Killing Of Texas Primary School Children

United States President; Joe Biden has urged the country to act against gun violence after a shooter killed 18 school children at an elementary in Texas.

A shaken Biden made the impassioned plea to the nation for more action to stop gun violence and to oppose the powerful gun lobby, which he blamed for blocking the enactment of tougher firearms laws. He said the flag would remain at half-mast till sunset on Saturday because of the tragedy.

The bloody mass shooting took place on Tuesday after an 18-year-old wearing body armor and carrying assault rifles entered a Texas elementary school and shot at least 19 children and two adults.

The attack on Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, 85 miles west of San Antonio, was the deadliest gun violence at an American school in nearly a decade. This prompted passionate calls for tighter gun control led by US President Joe Biden, which was matched by equally harsh demands from the gun lobby and Republicans for more armed guards in schools.

The shooting began at 11.32 a.m. Tuesday when the shooter, who is believed to have posted pictures of “My Guns” to Instagram four days earlier, opened fire on a classroom of nine and 10-year-olds.

“As a nation, we have to ask: When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Biden said in an address to the nation. “ … How many scores of little children, who witnessed what happened, see their friends die as if they’re on a battlefield, for God’s sake? We have to act.”

Authorities identified the gunman as Salvador Ramos, 18. Ramos had hinted on social media that an attack could be coming, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he had been briefed by state police. He said that the gunman “suggested the kids should watch out” and that he had bought two assault weapons after turning 18.

Multiple students in the classroom were wounded, and officials have said the death toll could rise. Olivarez did not know how many students were in the room when the shooting started but said it normally would hold 25-30 kids.

“A typical classroom setting, where you have mass groups of children inside that classroom altogether, with nowhere to go,” Olivarez said. “It just shows you the complete evil of the shooter.”

It’s unclear how many students, staff, and law enforcement officers were injured. University Hospital in San Antonio said Wednesday that a 66-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl were in serious condition. Another 10-year-old girl and a 9-year-old girl were listed in good condition. The children’s families are with them, according to the hospital.

The shooter was involved in a domestic dispute with his grandmother before he carried out the massacre, officials said. He shot her, got in a car, and crashed it near Robb Elementary.