President Biden wrote a letter to the families of victims of the deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, reaffirming his commitment to preventing gun violence to mark two years since the tragedy.
Biden notes in the letter, dated Friday’s anniversary, that he and first lady Jill Biden visited Uvalde after the shooting. He said, “When we met with the families, they delivered the same message we hear after so many mass shootings: do something.”
“Over the next two years, they made their voices heard – and our country listened,” added the president.
In the letter, Biden shared condolences for the 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School who were killed and said he prays the families find comfort in the memories of the victims.
The president noted in the letter that he signed the bipartisan gun safety law months after the shooting, which includes provisions to close purchasing loopholes and expand background checks. He also praised his administration’s launch of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention last year and renewed his call for Congress to act – especially on legislation related to universal background checks, a national red flag law and a ban on handguns. assault and high capacity magazines.
“Over the past 2 years, the people of Uvalde have turned their pain into purpose to demand progress for our nation,” Biden said. “I know we have a long road ahead, but the courage, strength and resilience they have shown in the face of such a profound loss reminds us that we can come together as a country and take common sense steps to save lives and maintain our safe communities.”
Robert Wilcox, deputy director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, will be in Uvalde on Friday to attend a vigil honoring the victims and deliver Biden’s letter, according to White House officials.
The anniversary also comes more than four months after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a damning report investigating why the shooter was able to enter and open fire at the school while 400 police officers from multiple agencies spent more than an hour waiting. outside.
Ultimately, the DOJ concluded that a lack of preparation, communication, and initiative led police to botch their response to the 2022 school shooting.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
