COLUMBIA, SC — Today South Carolina Democrats grieve with the families and community of Uvalde, Texas mourning the senseless killing of 20 children and teachers at Robb Elementary School.
The shooting at Robb Elementary School is sadly the latest incident in an endemic of mass violence plaguing our country. While South Carolinians hoped the 2015 killing of nine Black churchgoers at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston would mark a turning point in our country’s battle with gun violence, seven years later no meaningful change has taken place due to Republicans refusal to take up gun reform legislation.
“Senseless killings like what happened at Robb Elementary in Uvalde and at the Tops grocery store in Buffalo are not inevitable – our elected leaders have the power to pass laws to ensure this never happens again, said SCDP Chairman Trav Robertson. “The truth is congressional Republicans, who claim to be pro-life, are held hostage by the gun lobby that funds their reelection campaigns. They value staying in power over saving children’s lives.
“Just last year all six of South Carolina’s Republican Representatives voted against the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which would mandate background checks before gun sales. Each one of them needs to answer why.”
