Sen. Chris Murphy Pleads With GOP To Compromise On Gun Control After Texas Shooting

A visibly emotional Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) pleaded with his Republican colleagues Tuesday to accept some sort of legislation addressing gun violence, following a horrific elementary school shooting in Texas where at least 18 children and a teacher were killed.

Why do you spend all this time running for the United States Senate why do you go through all the hassle of getting this job, of putting yourself in a position of authority if your answer as the slaughter increases, as our kids run for their lives, [is that] we do nothing? Murphy said. What are we doing? Why are you here, if not to solve a problem as existential as this?

Clasping his hands together in the air, Murphy continued: Im here on this floor to beg, to literally get down on my hands and knees and beg my colleagues. Find a path forward here. Work with us to find a way to pass laws that make this less likely.

.@ChrisMurphyCT on TX school shooting leaving 14 children dead.

\"This isnt inevitable. These kids werent unlucky. This only happens in this country and nowhere else, nowhere else do little kids go to school thinking that they might be shot that day.\" pic.twitter.com/zeQvKXFixb

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This only happens in this country and nowhere else, nowhere else do little kids go to school thinking that they might be shot that day.\" pic.twitter.com/zeQvKXFixb Kelsie Taggart (@kelsientaggart) May 24, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1529212779990814725/pu/img/T_O9I1mb3Vo6bhYx.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Kelsie Taggart on 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.@ChrisMurphyCT on TX school shooting leaving 14 children dead.

"This isnt inevitable. These kids werent unlucky. This only happens in this country and nowhere else, nowhere else do little kids go to school thinking that they might be shot that day." pic.twitter.com/zeQvKXFixb
Kelsie Taggart (@kelsientaggart) May 24, 2022

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Murphy has been a vocal advocate of gun control after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in his state, where 20 children were killed. Republicans have blocked nearly all attempts by Murphy and other Democrats to pass new gun control measures, including more stringent background checks.

Police in Uvalde, Texas, responded to Robb Elementary School after reports of the shooting Tuesday afternoon. The shooter, an 18-year-old male, was killed by responding officers, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters in Washington he planned to head home to Texas.

Theres no words to describe how horrific this is. The investigation is ongoing and thankfully the shooter is out of commission, Cornyn said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.