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A distraught Texas grandmother of a girl killed in the Uvalde massacre pleaded Thursday for immediate action by US authorities to prevent future school massacres, as the country re-enters the raging gun debate. Amerie Garza, a fourth-grader who enjoyed her classes, drawing, and playing with clay, was one of 19 children murdered at Robb Elementary School by a teen gunman in an act of evil that has changed forever this small Texas town.
“My granddaughter was present. She was a sweet little girl who enjoyed school and looked forward to summer “Dora Mendoza told reporters after paying her respects outside the school at a makeshift memorial.
However, the 63-year-old, who lived with Amerie and saw her at an end-of-year ceremony just hours before she was killed, made it clear that she wanted US authorities such as President Joe Biden and Texas Governor Greg Abbott to collaborate on reforms.
President Biden, who is scheduled to visit Uvalde on Sunday, and Abbott have opposing views on gun control. Like many in the Democrat-Republican divide, the two disagree on how to address the nation’s rising gun violence.
“They shouldn’t just sit back and wait for…tragedy to begin,” she said.
“They must take appropriate action. They must not forget about us, the babies… Please don’t forget about them.” Mendoza pleaded through her tears, speaking in a mix of English and Spanish.
“I implore you to take action. I implore you! “She sobbed. “All the cries, all these innocent babies… we have no idea what they went through.”
Amerie’s “abuela” was among Uvalde residents who happened to come to pray or send flowers at the school monument, where 21 small white wooden crosses with the names of the 19 children and two teachers killed have been erected.
Yaritza Rangel, 23, was among those who came to lay flowers with her four children.
‘What if it occurs again?’
“We’re all hurt; we never thought this would happen here,” she said of the town, where most people know each other.
While avoiding politics, Rangel did mention three reforms she would like to see implemented: expanding background checks for gun purchases, tightening school security, and raising the minimum age for purchasing firearms.
“It makes no sense,” she said. “You must wait until you are 21 to purchase alcohol. Why are they allowing 18-year-olds to purchase rifles?”
Rangel, whose younger cousin was in a Robb Elementary classroom where the shooter attempted but failed to enter, is now concerned for her own children and says the attack has traumatised her.
Her son is about to start kindergarten, and the prospect of conflict keeps her awake at night.
