After Uvalde: Guns, Grief & Texas Politics

The PBS documentary “After Uvalde: Guns, Grief & Texas Politics" investigates the

aftermath of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. This was an incident

where 19 children and two teachers were killed. The documentary exposes the failures in law

enforcement’s delayed and unprofessional response, contradicting early narratives that

surrounded the incident, while highlighting the grief and anger of victims' families and survivors

felt. The documentary also analyzes the fierce political battle over gun reform in Texas,

showcasing how Republican leaders, including Governor Greg Abbott, dismissed calls for

stricter gun laws. Focusing instead on mental health and school security, despite growing public

demands for change. Through interviews with grieving families, activists, and policymakers, the

documentary underscores the deep societal divide over gun control and the trauma that was

placed on Uvalde’s community, raising urgent questions about accountability and prevention in a

nation plagued by mass shootings.

I believe the shooting would have never happened if we had just not let an 18-year-old

carry a firearm. The shooter, named Salvador Ramos, bought the firearm after his birthday. His

family says that they had no idea if he was going through things and if he ever needed help. His

parents thought that he was a normal teen, just being weird. This resulted in Ramos taking the

lives of many young children, including teachers. His friend stated that he made a post on

Instagram carrying a gun an AR. Ramps had also previously made a post of him carrying a BB

gun, showing it off in a close friend's story. He told his friend beforehand that it was going to

happen and that he was going to do it. Ramos’s friend should've alerted authorities about the

theft, but now has to live with the guilt of not reporting it. The little girl, having to cover herself

in her friend’s blood just so she wouldn't get shot by the shooter, just goes to show the
ruthlessness and deranged mindset that Ramos had while conducting the shooting. Why should a

little girl ever have to go through hiding in her friends' blood? Another detail that angers me is

the slow response from law enforcement. Why did it take 30 minutes to enter the school? If I was

a police officer, I wouldn't even think twice about entering the school. A police officer must

protect and put their life on the line for others. I like that now we have doors that keep these

shooters out from hurting our kids, but are we safe? For example, at PSJA Southwest, we have

gotten two gun threats and a school-wide bomb threat. Despite this, the school administration did

not bother to tell us, only that we must stay in class. I remember being in English class when

there was a real lockdown. That day, we had a sub who was not able to lock the door. The panic

in her face was noticeable when the class realized that it was not a drill. The entire class was

scared and panicking over the presumed threat. It goes to show that even in a lockdown where no

one got hurt, people felt scared. It makes you imagine the Uvalde shooting as students and

teachers were able to hear the shots. Imagine being a sub who can’t lock the door, knowing that

an active shooter is in the building.

I believe that we should not be able to carry a firearm until we are over the age of 21, and

if we want to carry a firearm, there should be necessary precautions placed to prevent another

incident like Uvalde. One way would be to take classes on how to properly use it and get a

certified license for it, and only use it when we need to use it, and carry a case for it. Lengthy

background checks would also help, as if any red flags were to be seen, the person would be

denied a permit. Kids or adults in school shouldn't have to worry about going to school and

fearing for their safety, having the thought in the back of their head, “What if today is the day we

die?” “What if I never get to say goodbye to my parents/child?”

taken even a minor threat seriously and investigated to guarantee the safety of students and staff.

Last year, metal detectors were placed at school entrances due to numerous threats. While

inefficient, the metal detectors reflected the priority that PSJA placed on safety.

To prevent the Uvalde tragedy from occurring again, the nation, not just Texas, has to

place a greater emphasis on gun control and school safety. As of today, gun control is nothing

but a lofty goal as Republicans continuously fight for greater gun freedoms. As the current

presidential administration pushes its agenda with no looking back, gun control is a topic that has

been taken off the table. I believe that even if another Uvalde incident were to happen, no actions

against gun ownership would be taken, as the politicians of today seem to favor their interests,

instead of those of the people who elected them.