“Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why? It’s time to act.” These are some of the words President Biden offered to America as he addressed the mass shooting that took place on May 24 at Robb Elementary School.
As of 9:00 p.m., 18 children have lost their lives, as well as three teachers after an 18-year-old named Salvador Ramos opened fire. Among the 21 killed was Ramos’ grandmother who was outside the school.
‘To Lose a Child Is to Have a Piece of Your Soul Ripped Away Forever’: President Biden Addresses the Nation Following Elementary School Mass Shooting
During Biden’s address, he spoke directly to the parents and families who are grieving tonight. The parents who lost a baby during this senseless act.
As it has been reported, Biden has endured losing a child more than once. First, when he lost his daughter and his wife in a car accident in December 1972. Naomi was just 13-months-old. He then experienced losing a son in 2015 when Beau Biden lost his battle with cancer.
“Tonight, there are parents who will never see their child again. Parents who will never be the same,” Biden said, seemingly pulling from his own experience. “To lose a child is to have a piece of your soul ripped away forever.”
“I ask the nation to pray for them — to give them strength in the darkness.”
Biden then questioned why these mass shootings only happen in America. “These kinds of mass shootings rarely happen elsewhere in the world,” he said.
“Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God’s name is our backbone to have the courage to deal with it? It’s time to turn this pain into action.”
You can watch Biden’s full address below:
Ramos was a student at Uvalde High School. His motive is not immediately known.
According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, “It’s believed that he abandoned his vehicle and entered into the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun and he may have also had a rifle, but that is not yet confirmed according to my most recent report.” It’s believed he acted alone.
The identities of those killed in the shooting have not yet been released.