It has been nearly a year since a shooter opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers. Police shot and killed the attacker, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, on-site, but the massacre on May 24, 2022, rocked the country, leaving Americans sorrowful, angry, and terrified. New information about the devastating attack is once again stirring up emotions.
Late Tuesday, Texas House Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, addressed victims' families at a hearing about stricter gun laws, revealing horrifying new details. According to NBC News, Moody told families that Ramos reportedly used victims' blood to write "LOL" on a classroom whiteboard. Men and women at the hearing, visibly shaken, sobbed and gasped at Moody's revelation.
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Attendees waited for hours to speak at the hearing.
The Texas State House of Representatives met Tuesday to discuss a bill that would effectively raise the legal age for the purchase of some semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21. NBC News reported that the hearing began in the early morning and continued until after midnight. Supporters of the bill sat patiently, waiting for an opportunity to address the committee, pleading for stricter gun laws.
"My daughter tried to buy Super Glue at Walmart the other day and was flagged as being under 18 … What's wrong with this picture?" questioned Javier Cazares. Another of his daughters, 9-year-old Jacklyn Cazares, died during the massacre.
Many believe stricter gun laws could have saved their children.
The grief these parents experienced is unimaginable. Many say they feel betrayed by their state and the laws in place. Had there been a higher age restriction in May 2022, Ramos would have been considered underage and their children might still be alive.
"Did you imagine what it would feel like to bury your child?" Kimberly Rubio asked. "Sit with that image as we do because only when you imagine will you as lawmakers take the necessary action, including voting for the bill."
She reiterated that Ramos murdered her daughter and 20 others just days after his 18th birthday.
The bill's supporters face an uphill battle.
Although the bill would exempt police, military, and those honorably discharged from the military, that is not enough for opponents. Many Republican lawmakers argue that the bill violates the Second Amendment and is unconstitutional. Witnesses for the opposition spoke at the hearing, including a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, NBC News reported.
Some think that criminals will get their hands on weapons no matter what the law says.
Stephen Willeford confronted a gunman with his own rifle during a 2017 mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, that killed 26. "If you think he (the shooter) couldn't have found a gun other ways or waited until he was 21 to do his murder spree you are wrong," he said.
Matthew McConaughey spoke about gun reform in the weeks following the shooting in his hometown.
McConaughey addressed the White House and the press corps on June 7, 2022, in support of the Uvalde community. He condemned those he called "deranged individuals" who were hijacking the Second Amendment, claiming responsible gun owners were fed up with lawmakers.
His impassioned speech asked for raising the minimum age to purchase assault rifles from 18 to 20, creating more vigorous background checks, red flag laws, and safer schools.
"We've got to look in the mirror, lead with humility, and acknowledge the values that are inherent to but also above politics," he said. "We got to make choices, make stands, embrace new ideas, and preserve the traditions that can create true progress for the next generation."
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The Uvalde community plans to honor the victims on the first anniversary of the devastating shooting.
The Uvalde Foundation For Kids plans to hold a 21-mile memorial walk on May 24 in memory of the 21 brave teachers and students who lost their lives last spring. Participants will plant a candle every mile from Temple to Salado, Texas.
The public is encouraged to join the event, which will begin at 11:33 a.m., the time Ramos first entered the school. The Uvalde Community School District will be off from May 23 to 25 during the one-year anniversary of the shooting.
A memo posted on the district's website reads in part, "The Uvalde CISD. Board of Trustees and Interim Superintendent Mr. Patterson, have profound respect for the one-year mark and a focus on the safety of our students and staff. Thank you for your patience and support as we prepare to observe the one-year mark of our tragedy."
District officials announced in February that they would demolish Robb Elementary, though they have yet to announce a timeline.
