Virginia Politicians React to Tragic Texas School Shooting

Law enforcement personnel, including the FBI, arrive at Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

By Meghin Moore

May 24, 2022

In the hours after the news broke about the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, many of Virginia’s current politicians took to Twitter to express their feelings.

On Tuesday, at least 14 children and one teacher lost their lives in a mass shooting that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that there were 15 fatalities, and that the alleged 18-year-old shooter was also dead, killed by officers responding to the scene. Other details about the shooting were not immediately available. Tuesday’s incident marks the eighth shooting in Texas since 2009 where at least four people were killed.

Hours after the shooting, many of Virginia’s politicians expressed their condolences and feelings on Twitter; many of them calling for gun control reform. As of publication, only one Republican lawmaker has made a comment on today’s tragedy: Attorney General Jason Miyares.

We have a deep sickness in this country. We cannot accept it as normal. I’m not going to stop pushing for legislation to make our communities safer. https://t.co/4Y6kavXj6d
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) May 24, 2022

My heart is with all those affected by the shooting in Uvalde. There are no words to express the magnitude of this tragedy. Gun violence is taking far too many lives. Congress must act.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) May 24, 2022

I can’t begin to fathom the hell on Earth that is receiving a call to say your children of any age — let alone in elementary school, nearly a decade since the Sandy Hook massacre — their classmates and teacher are dead because someone shot them in school. What unbearable grief.
— Del. Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) May 24, 2022

My heart is breaking & my prayers are with the families and community of Uvalde.

I am sick of this. The time for meaningful action on gun safety in this country is long past. We shouldn’t live in fear our loved ones won’t come home at the end of the day.
— Karrie Delaney (@KarrieKDelaney) May 24, 2022

14 children and a teacher were murdered.

My heart is broken for the families, the community, and our country. Congress must take action and bring commonsense gun violence prevention legislation for a vote.

We cannot accept this as normal… even though it keeps happening. https://t.co/SkzRNxTA0h
— Abigail Spanberger (@SpanbergerVA07) May 24, 2022

I am praying for the wounded, the families forever changed, and our nation.
— Rep. Abigail Spanberger (@RepSpanberger) May 24, 2022

I was picking my daughter up from school today when I heard the news from Uvalde. When she asked “why?” I couldn’t explain it. My heart breaks for the parents, teachers, and the entire community. https://t.co/xsmC4GGRG5
— Elaine Luria (@ElaineLuria) May 24, 2022

They say more guns make us safer as the mass shootings keep getting more frequent and the toll keeps getting bloodier. It is not rational to accept massacres at our grocery stores, churches, malls, and theaters. How can they not do anything? These are our schools, our children.
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) May 24, 2022

I am heartbroken. Again, we must grieve for children killed and wounded in the place they should feel most safe. This madness must end. https://t.co/AcyI2HDDvW
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) May 24, 2022

Is this the price we are willing to pay for the @NRA’s greed?

Are we really willing to send our kids to die at their desks because the @GOP is too pathetic and scared to act?

This is madness.
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) May 24, 2022

The pace of our collective grief is too fast to fathom let alone bear. https://t.co/P0Te9hAqp0
— Sally Hudson (@SallyLHudson) May 24, 2022

So how many more people (babies and teachers in schools, grocery shopping, worshippers) need to die in these mass shootings before Republicans get the message that this is not the Wild West? No more thoughts and prayers folks. Action!
— Mamie Locke (@SenatorLocke) May 24, 2022

Heartbreaking news from Texas. My thoughts are with the families now who have suffered these unbearable losses. Columbine, Sandy Hook, Stoneman Douglas. Enough is enough. https://t.co/l6oTelwXmZ
— Ghazala Hashmi (@SenatorHashmi) May 24, 2022

10 years ago Sandy Hook shocked us.
Nothing changed.

History will look back on a nation that sat on its hands while 100+ people died every day from gun violence. ENOUGH. https://t.co/It3H0ZeEby
— Sam Rasoul (@Sam_Rasoul) May 24, 2022

https://twitter.com/RepMcEachin/status/1529220312272863233?s=20&t=aJaNmkfzVttW5T6qIUBkBw

Absolute unspeakable tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. This was the face of evil.

Please join Page and I in praying for the innocent lives lost, children, families, faculty and staff.
— Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) May 24, 2022