AUSTIN — Immediately after the deadly Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, some Texas Republicans pushed back against renewed calls for more restrictive gun laws.

Speaker on NewsmaxTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton said it was “somewhat ridiculous” to think someone who commits murder would follow any other law.

“People who shoot people, who kill children, don’t follow the murder laws. They won’t obey gun laws,” Paxton said, wearing a blue campaign t-shirt, on the night of his runoff against George P. Bush. “I would much rather have law-abiding citizens armed, trained so they can react when something like this happens because it won’t be the last time.”

On Fox News, he later added“We can’t stop bad people from doing bad things. … We can potentially arm, prepare, and train teachers and other administrators to respond quickly. This is, in my opinion, the best answer.

US Senator Ted Cruz accused some lawmakers of trying to politicize the tragedy.

“You see Democrats and a lot of people in the media whose immediate solution is to try to restrict the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. It does not work. It’s not effective” Cruz told a CNN reporter. “We know what prevents crime, who tackles criminals and fugitives and people with serious mental illness.”

The remarks prompted an immediate backlash from some Democrats, including state Rep. Donna Howard.

“It’s not about denying firearms to law-abiding people. These are irresponsible policies that make guns easily and readily available to those who could do harm, including our children, for God’s sake,” Howard, D-Austin, tweeted. “A fact of life? WTF!”

Neither Governor Greg Abbott nor U.S. Senator John Cornyn mentioned gun laws in their immediate reactions to the Uvalde shooting, which left at least 21 people dead at an elementary school. An 18-year-old suspect was killed at the scene.

The violent event marked at least the seventh major shooting in Texas since Abbott took office in 2015. After each tragedy, Texas politicians have renewed debates over the state’s permissive gun laws. In a statement Tuesday, the governor said he mobilized state resources to help in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“Texans across the state mourn the victims of this senseless crime and the community of Uvalde. Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support for all who are suffering,” Abbott said.

Speaking to Tucker Carlson on Fox NewsLt. Gov. Dan Patrick argued Tuesday for adding more security to Texas schools.

“Obviously we need to do more. We need to harden these targets so that no one can enter except through a single entrance. Maybe that would help. Maybe that would stop someone,” he said. “But it’s really bigger than that, Tucker. We are a rude society. We are a society that is right at the throat all the time. And we are better than that as a nation.

Texas eases gun restrictions

Republicans who control the Texas Legislature have steadily reduced gun restrictions in recent years.

In 2021, Texas became the largest state in the nation to allow people to carry handguns in public without a license or the mandatory training that goes with it.

In response to past mass shootings, Abbott has convened roundtables and released long lists of policy recommendations. But many failed to pass the GOP-led Legislature amid pushback by gun rights groups.

After a gunman killed 23 people in a racist rampage in El Paso in 2019, Patrick said he would challenge the NRA to push to expand background checks to stranger-to-stranger gun sales.

But he stopped talking about the idea once last year’s legislative session began, and instead prioritized gun bills that expanded protections for owners and sellers.

In the aftermath of a shooting in Odessa that killed eight people in the same year, Abbott signed into law several new gun bills, including allowing anyone who can legally own a handgun to carry it on their person for a full week. after the declaration of a natural disaster.

Following the 2018 mass shooting at Santa Fe High School outside Houston, the Legislature earmarked $100 million for districts to beef up security with metal detectors, fencing and other measures. In the weeks following the tragedy, Abbott suggested lawmakers consider so-called red flag laws, but backed away from the idea after his fellow Republicans rebuffed.

There have been several other major shootings in recent years, including the targeting of a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs which left 26 people dead and an attack on Dallas police in which 5 officers died.

In response to the church shooting, state lawmakers legalized the carrying of a firearm in any place of worship unless specifically prohibited by religious leaders.

Texas Democrats respond to Uvalde

In its first statement after the shooting, the Texas Democratic Party demanded action without explicitly mentioning restricting access to firearms.

“Today we mourn and renew our demand for meaningful action now to end gun violence. The families of Texas cannot wait any longer,” said President Gilberto Hinojosa.

The chairman of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus went further, calling for a legislative response and saying that Texas could not continue down this path.

“It should be safe for teachers and children to go to school. Every day we don’t address the epidemic of gun violence is one day too many,” Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, said in a written statement. “Without gun safety protections, the slaughter of innocent lives will continue.”

Beto O’Rourke, who is challenging Abbott, criticized the governor after the shooting.

“The time to stop Uvalde was right after Sandy Hook. After Santa Fe High. After El Paso. Instead, Abbott made it easier to carry guns in public. The time to stop the next massacre is now,” he wrote on Facebook.

U.S. Representative Colin Allred, D-Dallas, released a statement imploring the Senate to act.

“The House passed, with a bipartisan vote, common sense legislation to begin to address this crisis, without violating the rights of law-abiding gun owners,” he said. “The Senate should pick up this legislation tomorrow and send it to President Biden’s office. The time for excuses and politics is over.

NRA Annual Meeting in Houston

Sylvester Turner, the Democratic mayor of Houston and former lawmaker, also called on Congress, governors and state lawmakers to “pass sensible gun control legislation.”

“How many more children have to lose their lives because of senseless gun violence? ” he added.

The shooting comes days before the National Rifle Association is to hold its annual meeting in Houston, where prominent politicians including Abbott, Cruz and former President Donald Trump are scheduled to speak.

A spokesperson for John Cornyn previously said the senior Texas senator would not be able to attend the ANR meeting due to a scheduling conflict. Like Abbott, he too did not address gun laws in his immediate reactions.

“My heart goes out to those in hospital receiving care and to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives,” Cornyn, also a Republican, tweeted. “As a parent, I can’t imagine the pain they must be feeling.”

State Senator José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, says the tragedy of Uvalde “DOES NOT NEED to be politicized.”

“We need to stop talking to each other and develop solutions.” he tweeted.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, offered prayers to families.