A guardian of one of many kids killed throughout a mass taking pictures at an elementary college in Uvalde, Texas, has referred to as out Governor Greg Abbott after he posted a message welcoming college students again to high school.
Mr Abbott made the submit on Twitter on Sunday, recalling “fond memories” he had of his daughter throughout back-to-school season, based on HuffPost.
“Good luck to our Texas students and teachers heading back to school,” Mr Abbott wrote. “No doubt you will make us, and your parents, proud this year.”
For some Texan dad and mom — like Brett Cross, whose son Uziyah was one of many 19 college students killed within the mass taking pictures — the celebration that college students are returning to lecture rooms was a bitter reminder of his loss.
He responded to Mr Abbott, arguing that the governor did nothing to deal with the taking pictures.
“You know what back to school season brings us,” Mr Cross wrote. “Memories that our children died a gruesome horrific death and you did absolutely nothing except tell us that ‘it could have been worse’. No special session. No holding YOUR police force accountable. Lying through your teeth. [You’re] an embarrassment.”
Mr Cross is referring to a press release Mr Abbott made the day after the taking pictures, throughout which he stated that “as horrible as what has happened, it could have worse.”
“The reason it was not worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do: They showed amazing courage by running toward gun fire for the singular purpose of trying to save lives,” he said.
The Uvalde police were met with fury by the public and the parents of the children who were killed when it was revealed that they waited more than 70 minutes to confront the shooter. The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Steve McCraw, called the Uvalde police response an “abject failure.”
Mr Cross’s wife also posted about the upcoming school year, saying she hopes her other children will “survive” the year.
“Today should be your first day of 6th grade,” Ms Cross wrote on Twitter, in reminiscence of her son. “After dropping off your brother and sister I sit at home terrified…waiting. I will never enjoy the first day of school again. Instead I will wait and hope they survive the year.”