‘Now is the time to act’ mourners calls for Action after a school shootings in Texas
As the country re-enters the seething debate over weapons, a grieving Texas grandmother of a girl killed in the Uvalde atrocity called Thursday for immediate action by US authorities to prevent similar school shootings.
Amerie Garza, a fourth-grader who enjoyed sketching and playing with clay, was one of 19 children slain at Robb Elementary School by a young gunman in an act of evil that has permanently transformed this little Texas community.
“There was my granddaughter in there.” Dora Mendoza who told reporters, After paying her respects at a makeshift shrine outside the school, “She was an innocent little girl who loved school and was looking forward to summer.” she explained further
However, the 63-year-old, who lived with Amerie and saw her at an end-of-year celebration just hours before she was killed, made it plain that she wanted US authorities like President Joe Biden and Texas Governor Greg Abbott to collaborate on improvements.
In terms of gun sales limitations, Biden, who is scheduled to visit Uvalde on Sunday, and Abbott are polar opposites. Like many other aspects of the Democrat-Republican divide, they disagree on how to address the country’s rising gun violence.
“They shouldn’t just sit around and wait for disaster to strike,” she remarked.
“Something needs to be done about it.” They must not overlook us, the children… Please don’t forget them,” Mendoza implored through sobs, speaking in a combination of English and Spanish.
“Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please” She cried out, “I beg you!” “We have no idea what these small innocent infants went through with all the crying.”
Amerie’s “abuela” was one of several Uvalde neighbors who came to pray or lay flowers at the school monument, which has 21 miniature white wooden crosses with the names of the 19 students and two teachers slain.
Yaritza Rangel, 23, was among the grieving, bringing forth her four children to lay flowers.
What If It Repeat Itself?
“We’re all in pain.” “We never expected this to happen here,” she remarked, adding that most of the town’s people know each other.
While avoiding politics, Rangel did mention three improvements she wants to see implemented: expanding background checks for gun purchases, tightening school security, and raising the minimum age for purchasing firearms.
“It doesn’t make sense,” she expressed her dissatisfaction. “You have to wait till you’re 21 before purchasing alcohol.” Why are they allowing 18-year-olds to purchase rifles?
Rangel, whose young nephew was in a Robb Elementary classroom where the shooter attempted but failed to enter, is now concerned for her own children and claims the attack has left her traumatized.
Her son is about to start primary school, and the possibility of violence keeps her awake at night.
“What if it occurs again?” says the narrator.
Flowers, stuffed animals, candles, and jewelry have been placed by dozens of families, students, and friends at a second monument in Uvalde’s town square, which has become a gathering spot for residents to join in their grief.
It, like the original memorial, has white crosses with the names of the dead engraved on them. On Thursday, Meghan Markle, the wife of Britain’s Prince Harry, paid a visit to the site.
With her head lowered, the 40-year-old Duchess of Sussex reached down and laid flowers between two of the crosses, dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a blue baseball cap.
Some mourners adorned the crosses with notes, including one written by a young child for victim Jackie Cazares.
It said, “Love you cousin until we meet again.”
AFP
