Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz—who is speaking Friday at the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum— again accused Democrats of politicizing mass shootings in his response to the murders of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
As reported by CNN, the Texas Republican said:
"Inevitably when there's a murderer of this kind, you see politicians try to politicize it, you see Democrats and a lot of folks in the media whose immediate solution is to try to restrict the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens."
Disgusted the GOP Senator's first instinct after the murders of school children in his own state was to defend guns, Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona pulled no punches in his response to Cruz.
Gallego tweeted:
"F'k you , you care about a fetus but you will let our children get slaughtered."
"Just get your a** to Cancun."
"You are useless."
@RubenGallego/Twitter
Less than half an hour later, Gallego—a United States Marine Corps combat veteran—clarified his message to Cruz.
The Arizona Democrat tweeted:
"Just to be clear f'k you you f'king baby killer."
@RubenGallego/Twitter
When Cruz suggested the usual NRA solution to mass shootings—adding more guns—Gallego let Cruz know he was living in the past.
There was a time in this country where we didn’t have armed cops at our schools.
There was a time when parents didn’t think about school shootings.
There was a time when kids didn’t have to learn to hide from gunmen
It was in the 1990’s we don’t have to live this way! https://t.co/injhRONI5b
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 25, 2022
People were on board with Gallego's message.
Those elementary school kids had a right to attend school without being shot.
— Tony (@TonyHamaoui) May 24, 2022
Thank you. Thank you for this.
— Danielle Misiak 🌻🇺🇦 (@DanielleMisiak) May 24, 2022
@tedcruz These children also had-HAD-heartbeats. What did you do to protect THEM? What do you say to their parents, grandparents when you choose GUN “rights” over human life?
— CuriosityAbounds 🇺🇸🇺🇦🌻 (@CuriosityAboun1) May 24, 2022
We need more of this energy!
— Little MsSunshine Is Woke☮️ ✌🏻🌱 🌈 (@MsSunshine2020) May 24, 2022
👆🏼 More of this!!! THIS is A TRUE LEADER! Someone NOT AFRAID to tell it like it is!!! Bravo @RepRubenGallego !👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Independent Voter (@DiggityDogDo) May 25, 2022
Thank you for expressing the rage we all feel . It’s time .
— Deb Scheetz (@dabscheetz) May 25, 2022
Cruz was not the only one Gallego had a message for.
He also addressed California Republican Darrell Issa...
@RubenGallego/Twitter
...and Arizona Democratic Senator Krysten Sinema...
Please just stop.. unless you are willing to break the filibuster to actually pass sensible gun control measures you might as well just say “thoughts and prayers” https://t.co/YA5Pp3dqao
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 24, 2022
...and former New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie...
Medicaid Expansion covers mental health care - Republicans vote against it.
ACA (Obamacare) covers mental healthcare - Republicans try to defund it.
Build Back Better had money for Mental Health- GOP votes no.
Starting to think GOP is not serious about mental health. 🤷🏽♂️ https://t.co/iaRpupLSpH
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 25, 2022
...and Colorado Republican gun rights advocate Lauren Boebert...
Wait.. you think abortion is evil and you just applauded the end of Roe v Wade? So…. https://t.co/ZL7G0ztxEv
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 25, 2022
...and Texas' lax gun laws.
Had the Texas terrorist tried to buy a hand gun the sale would have been barred by federal law.
Why is an 18 year old allow to buy a weapon I used in war?
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 25, 2022
This ⬇️⬇️. The AR Variants are designed to kill as many people as possible.
It is a hunting rifle but to hunt men. Every piece of it is designed to hurt as many people as fast as possible.
At a minimum an 18 year olds should not be able to buy it. https://t.co/vIlpKqXPbl
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 25, 2022
To be clear there is a difference between using an AR variant it’s by far deadlier than a hand gun than your normal hunting rifle.
It has a higher rate of fire, the rounds are designed to maim humans and make survivability harder. A different weapon would have been better. https://t.co/u5WIDaEbaq
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 25, 2022
Everything about this weapon is designed to kill as many people as fast as possible. Even the forward hand grip and the “gun grip” is designed for you to keep your weapon on target as you fire.
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) May 25, 2022
Gallego expressed the frustration many in the United States are feeling.
Whether anyone in the GOP will listen is unknown.