Uvalde elementary school shooter bought guns on his 18th birthday

Yesterday, I woke up in a pretty good amount of pain. Between being in my 50s, yesterday’s gloomy Kansas weather, and a minor recurring condition I have, that’s to be expected. But I felt off about something else that I just couldn’t put my finger on. I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was a sense of dread. I took one of my medications that made me sleepy. Furthermore, I only slept for a couple of hours but when I woke up the news about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas had already broken. I don’t know if I ever told this story, but this was eerily similar to when I first found out about Columbine in 1999.

Am I saying that I have a Spider-Sense about school shootings? Absolutely not. This was nothing more than a coincidence. As frequently as mass shootings keep happening, there are pretty damn good odds that they’ll happen on a day when I’m feeling under the weather. But as always, this isn’t about me.

As most of you know, 19 children and 2 adults were shot and killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. The shooter is said to be 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, who lived in Uvalde. That morning, he shot his 66-year-old grandmother, before heading to the elementary school. He crashed his truck into a ditch near the school and emerged with what witnesses said was a rifle, body armor, and a backpack. Just as an aside, I wondered if the body armor was actually just a tactical vest which offers no protection. Turns out, anyone can legally purchase body armor in Texas. The shooter then entered the school and began shooting.

Local Police called in U.S. Border Patrol agents to assist. Police exchanged gunfire with the shooter. Two officers were shot before a Border Patrol agent is believed to have delivered the fatal shot to Ramos, but not before Ramos killed 19 elementary school children and two teachers. One of the Border Patrol agents was shot in the head, but is said to be in stable condition.

One of the adult victims has been identified as fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles. Some of the child victims have been identified as 8-year-old Uziyah Garcia, 10-year-old Xavier Javier Lopez and 10-year-old Jose Flores.

Of course, we can’t have a mass murderer without them at least giving some signs to their intentions online. Ramos was said to have posted a picture of two guns to Instagram that you can see above. He is also said to have had a TikTok profile that said, “Kids be scared irl” and that “the kids should watch out.”

Speaking of the guns. Ramos is believed to have purchased the guns on the day that he turned 18. Those are two AR-15s. As mentioned in my post about the Buffalo massacre, these are the weapons of choice for mass shooters. Strangely enough, in Texas, you can buy a semi-automatic assault rifle that can be used with high-capacity magazines at the age of 18. But you have to be 21 to buy a handgun.

This was the deadliest school shooting in the history of Texas, and Texas is no stranger to school shootings. Just off the top of my head, I can think of the shootings at Santa Fe High School, Italy High School, and the infamous tower shooting at University of Texas. That’s not taking into account the other mass shootings that have happened in Texas, such as the 2019 mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart that left 23 dead.

Not surprisingly, the NRA is set to hold a convention in Houston, where Texas Governor Greg Abbott is set to speak along with Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.

Speaking of the Three Texas Stooges, let’s see what they had to say about the shooting.

Here’s the official statement from Greg ‘Assclown’ Abbott…

“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde. Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering. We thank the courageous first responders who worked to finally secure Robb Elementary School. I have instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to work with local law enforcement to fully investigate this crime. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is charged with providing local officials all resources necessary to respond to this tragedy as the State of Texas works to ensure the community has what it needs to heal.”

Huh. No mention of gun violence at all. While not saying it outright, that sounds a lot like ‘thoughts and prayers’.

Ok, how about Senator Ted Cruz (R-Acapulco)…

“Heidi & I are fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde,” Cruz said in a tweet. “We are in close contact with local officials, but the precise details are still unfolding. Thank you to heroic law enforcement & first responders for acting so swiftly.”

Still no mention of guns, but he actually said prayers. No surprise, he didn’t say thoughts. I doubt he has any of his own. But much like Governor Abbott, he also kisses the asses of first responders, two of which were shot.

And now let’s go to Republican Senator John Cornyn, who I’ve never heard of until today…

“This is an excruciatingly difficult time for the tight-knit Uvalde community and for all Texans as we mourn this terrible tragedy,” the statement read in part. “My heart goes out to those in the hospital receiving care and to the loved ones of those who lost their lives. As a parent, the pain they must be feeling is unimaginable.”

His heart goes out, huh? First, I’m surprised he has one, and second, does that count as a thought or a prayer? And again, no mention of doing anything about guns.

Now let’s go to the other side of the aisle. First, we’ll hear from perennial Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke, said “our broken hearts are with Uvalde” in a tweet Tuesday afternoon. He later added: “The moment to stop Uvalde was right after Sandy Hook. After Santa Fe High. After El Paso. Instead, Abbott made it easier to carry guns in public. The moment to stop the next slaughter is right now.”

He’s absolutely correct, but unfortunately, this is why he’s failed to capture the Texas Governor’s Office.

Texas State Representative James Talarico put it best though…

“Nothing will change until we love our children more than our guns.”

And that’s the problem, isn’t it? In Texas, and many other gun-friendly states (I’m looking at you Kansas) guns have more rights than children and women.

Even a tragedy such as this will not move the needle. Most Texas gun owners probably don’t even give a crap about these kids because Uvalde is largely a Hispanic community. 90% of the school’s students are Hispanic.

It doesn’t even matter that two federal agents were shot in the ensuing gun battle. All the ‘responsible gun owners™’ will say they ‘Back the Blue’ until it limits their ability to stockpile a cache of firearms that have yet to overthrow any actual tyrants.

I’m out of things to say for now. So, in closing, guns are for cowards and repeal the 2nd Amendment.

(Sources)

• At least 19 children, 2 adults killed after shooter opens fire at Texas elementary school
• Texas school shooting – latest: First victims named as 19 children and 2 teachers killed
• 19 children, 2 teachers killed in Texas elementary school shooting
• Gunman kills 19 children in Texas school rampage
• Texas school shooting: Leaders react to ‘horrific tragedy’
• Governor Abbott Statement On Shooting At Robb Elementary School In Uvalde