Pols Call for Action After Santa Fe Shooting: ‘Horrifying Inaction of Congress’ Is ‘Green Light’ for Shooters

There have been a number of calls for action on gun violence today following the horrific school shooting in Santa Fe this morning.

In remarks earlier this afternoon, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that “we need to do more than just pray” and called for action, bringing up background checks and increasing resources to protect schools. He announced roundtable discussions will be held next week to discuss “swift solutions.”

Hillary Clinton tweeted out a message there needs to be “soul searching across America”:

Every day that we fail to act on gun violence, we are failing our children. This should be a day for soul searching across America – and that soul searching should be matched with legislating to begin dealing with this national shame.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 18, 2018

Some Democrats in Congress have been publicly appealing to Speaker Paul Ryan to act:

It’s not too soon. It’s too late.

For at least 8 families. For thousands more student-survivors at Santa Fe High School. @SpeakerRyan, you’ve had 3 months since our meeting to ready universal background checks for the floor.

How many more?

— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) May 18, 2018

Dear @SpeakerRyan: With the mass school shooting in Texas, is it too soon to debate gun safety measures?

If that’s your view, can we talk about the mass shooting at #Parkland? Or the over 20 school shootings this year?

When will you let the House actually debate this issue? https://t.co/BVJkbHIOPJ

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 18, 2018

In his statement this afternoon on the shooting, the Speaker said, “While we need to learn more about what took place here, it is urgent that we implement the reforms Congress recently passed to make schools safer and keep deadly weapons away from those who should not have them.”

Senator Rand Paul, appearing on Fox News earlier this afternoon (video below), said schools need to make it clear they will not “leave our kids defenseless.”

.@RandPaul: “Let’s encourage everybody who protects our kids – superintendents, principals, school board – announce tomorrow that we are not going to leave our kids defenseless. We are going to defend our schools from crazy people with guns.” pic.twitter.com/lHwU5xONPA

— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 18, 2018

Many Democrats made calls for action on gun violence, with Senator Chris Murphy calling out congressional inaction in particular:

Let’s call it like it is: the horrifying inaction of Congress, slaughter after slaughter, has become a green light to would-be shooters, who pervert silence into endorsement.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) May 18, 2018

Doing nothing in the face of these tragedies is unacceptable. We should be voting in the Senate on common sense gun safety legislation on Monday.

— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) May 18, 2018

Heartbreaking, unbearable news out of Santa Fe, TX, the latest community to be torn apart by a horrific school shooting. How many more families and communities must grieve? Enough is enough.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) May 18, 2018

Horrified by another senseless act of violence. Ohio stands with Santa Fe and we are grateful to all first responders. Of course our priority is supporting the victims, law enforcement, and community. We also know that thoughts and prayers alone are not enough. -SB

— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) May 18, 2018

My heart breaks for the students and faculty of Santa Fe High School, and the families of those who lost their lives today. One young person lost to gun violence is one too many. This cannot continue. #EnoughIsEnough

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 18, 2018

Today, we are grieving with Santa Fe High School, but we must do more. Making our schools safer for our children starts with passing the common-sense gun safety laws that the majority of Americans support. Another moment of silence will not suffice, we must act.

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) May 18, 2018

Horrified by the shooting in Santa Fe that took the lives of 9 students and a teacher. Their families, hundreds of students and teachers who witnessed this tragedy will never be the same.

We must act to keep our schools and our children safe. Words of condolence are not enough.

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) May 18, 2018

[image via Zach Gibson / Getty Images]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac