‘The Status Quo Is Unacceptable’ – Opinion

Texas Governor Greg Abbott hosted a press conference at Uvalde Elementary School in Texas where an 18 year-old with rifle perpetrated an atrocity on 19 innocent children. Two teachers were also hurt.

Abbott and Don McLaughlin from Uvalde Mayor announced that everyone who was killed by the shooter’s bullets will receive their funeral expenses. He announced that community members will be able to access mental health services if they request them.

There is also a site that has been set up where donations can be made that goes straight to the people of Uvalde called onestarfoundation.org.

Abbott asked questions following announcements about Uvalde’s resources. Abbot was initially asked if he knew that the officers had held off for over an hour before moving forward with their investigation on the shooter.  Abbott stated that the information about the shooting that was initially given to him was incorrect. When he gave his words he was reciting what was told to him from the get-go, and that he is “livid” about the fact that he was misled.

Greg Abbott said that law enforcement officers “told him lies” about the Uvalde shooting. He claims that he was not told by officers how long they stood in the corridor while the shooting took place. pic.twitter.com/6PTBnSj3SW

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 27, 2022

Abbott also promised that law enforcement would gain the public’s trust from now on, which includes an investigation of everything that occurred in Uvalde.

A reporter asked Abbott if any legislation he had signed, such as constitutional carry, could be reversed. Abbott clarified that no of his laws from the last session were to intersect with those that had been broken by shooter. Abbott also stated that new legislation would be passed to address mental and gun crime, school safety, as well as healthcare.

“The status quo is unacceptable,” said Abbott. “This crime is unacceptable. We’re not gonna be here talking about it and do nothing about it. We will be looking for the best laws that we can get passed to make our communities and schools safer.”

Abbott made it very clear that Texas’s healthcare system would continue to be focused on mental health.