By Howard Koplowitz, The Associated Press
Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Chris England expressed his anger over the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school.
Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Chris England punctuated his anger with an expletive Wednesday over the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers.
“We’re tired of reading bullshit statements from politicians and we’re tired of writing them,” said England, who also represents Tuscaloosa in the state House of Representatives. “How many more innocent lives have to be lost for someone to do something?”
England demanded “federal action” on gun control and other issues, noting that Democrats control both chambers of Congress and the presidency.
“We need action on gun violence, voting rights, the minimum wage, healthcare, abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, cannabis reform, income inequality, the housing crisis, the student debt crisis, the prison crisis and countless other issues,” he said. “Democrats are in control of Washington. We need federal action now.”
The shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., killed 19 students and two adults.
The gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Romas, of Uvalde, allegedly shot his grandmother before crashing his vehicle near the school then entering with the firearms. Officials believe he acted alone.
The massacre – the deadliest at an elementary school since the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut that killed 26 people, including 20 children – prompted outpourings of grief from local officials.
While England and other Democrats blamed lax gun laws for the mass shooting, Alabama Republicans blamed mental health issues.
“It’s a people problem. It’s not a gun problem,” U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told the New York Daily News. “You can’t do away with all the guns. We have to start treating people.
“We got to go to the root problem. It starts with parents,” he added. “And we’re attacking everything, the moral values every day up here. We’re attacking the solution.”
Katie Britt, the leading vote-getter in Tuesday night’s Republican primary to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., suggested that religion was the solution.
“As a nation we must turn to God and turn away from evil. It’s time for a revival to sweep our nation,” she said Tuesday night. “The violence against our precious children must stop. I pray that the promise of everlasting life through Jesus Christ will bring comfort to the victims’ families at this unimaginable time.”
