Governor Greg Abbott was criticized for his response to a recent shooting in Uvalde.
Thursday, two persons were injured in a shooting involving gangs, according to police.
Abbott replied to the shooting by claiming, “gang violence has put the town of Uvalde in peril.”
According to CBS Austin, critics of Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized him for attributing a recent shooting in Uvalde to gang activity.
This week’s shooting at Uvalde Memorial Park left two individuals injured, according to KSAT-TV.
According to the police investigation, the incident was the result of a conflict between competing gang members.
The news outlet reported that four individuals aged 16 to 22 were charged in connection with Thursday’s shooting. Thursday, Abbott issued a statement in response to the incident.
This evening, I was shocked to read that gang violence had endangered the community of Uvalde and innocent Texans.
As a result, the governor has instructed the Department of Public Safety to conduct “patrol operations in gang hotspots” and to “begin coordinating an anti-gang effort with the city.”
According to KSAT-TV, the recent shooting occurred around two miles from Robb Elementary, where a gunman killed 19 children and two adults in May.
Critics, though, are urging the Republican governor to implement additional gun restrictions, rather than focusing solely on gangs.
Nancy Thompson, the founder of Mothers Against Greg Abbott, told CBS Austin, “In his press release, he blamed gangs because it’s much easier to point the finger at others than to look inward and understand the fault lies wholly with himself.”
—Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott TX)
September 9, 2022
As a result of the tragedy at Robb Elementary School, parents have taken the lead in pressuring Governor Abbott to prohibit AR-15-style weapons, comparable to the weapon used in the mass shooting. According to the Huffington Post, supporters and family members of those killed rallied outside Abbott’s home last month, urging him to raise the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21.