School day: Los Angeles leaders call for gun control; OC sheriff steps up school presence
One day after a tragic shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 students and two teachers, campuses opened their doors as usual Wednesday across the Southland, with some under a closer watch from law enforcement hoping to offer some assurance of safety to students, parents and staffers.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said his department would be working with “school resource officers to ensure
the safety of our children.”
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said the department “is working closely with Los Angeles School Police to increase patrols around our schools and common pathways to ensure the safety of our children. We are also working diligently to investigate crimes and behaviors that can lead to future violence.”
The Santa Monica Police Department issued a statement saying, “Even though we have no information of any credible
threats occurring in our schools, personnel within our department will show a strong presence around our local schools.” In Torrance, Police Chief Jay Hart said the department “is committed to protecting the safety of Torrance students and continues to work with (Torrance Unified School District) to create an environment where students and teachers can thrive.”
In Long Beach, police issued a statement also saying there are no known threats of violence
locally, but “we are maintaining a vigilant posture and increasing our patrol presence throughout the city, including at our schools.”
“Our hearts are breaking. I'm sick of this,” Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted. “We can't keep losing innocent children because we're incapable of doing what's right. We can't stall on gun control any longer. How much sorrow before stopping these acts of senseless violence?”
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard,
D-Los Angeles, wrote, “My heart breaks for the families of the victims in Uvalde, TX. We cannot continue to do nothing on gun reform and expect a different result. We must pass laws to stop these awful, preventable tragedies NOW.”
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block added, “Children should be able to go to school without the fear of violence. What happened today shakes me to my core.”
In response to the calls for gun control, the Sacramento-based Gun Owners of California retweeted a statement from its partners at Gun Owners of America, saying, “We mourn the innocent Texans murdered this afternoon. Sadly, we have already seen significant politicization of this tragedy for political gain by those on the left, including most alarmingly, in fundraising emails —but also in calls for gun control. Additionally, politicians who support the Second Amendment across the state and country are being made the subjects of unacceptable, vitriolic, ad hominem attacks, and we stand in their defense.
“Instead of playing politics, we must discuss real solutions to preventing this type of evil from striking again, for example, by arming willing teachers which is a solution supported by 81% of police. If our elected officials are important enough to receive armed protection, so, too, should our children.”
The nation's latest mass shooting came one day after Los Angeles elected officials, faith leaders and cultural leaders gathered at First AME Church of Los Angeles for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims killed in two racialand hate-motivated mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Laguna Woods last week.
A candle was lit for each of the 11 victims killed during the two shootings: 10 in Buffalo on May 14 and one in Laguna Woods on May 15.
“Going to school. Going grocery shopping. Going to church. Going to the mall. My heart breaks for the families and community in Uvalde, Texas — and for all victims of gun violence,” Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, tweeted following Tuesday's school shooting. “We must do better. We must save lives. We must #EndGunViolence.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis echoed those thoughts, saying on Twitter, “My thoughts and prayers are with those whose loved ones were tragically lost and injured during the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School.
“Gun violence has devastated far too many communities including Uvalde, Texas today. When is enough, enough? #EndGunViolence NOW.”
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles and a candidate for mayor, said, “After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, we said never again. Ten years later one teacher and 14 children are murdered in Texas. Republican inaction is killing our kids. They choose to look away. They choose to not act. We need reform now.”
Mayoral candidate and L.A. City Councilman Kevin de León wrote, “I'm disgusted that this is normal in America. The worst part? We can prevent this. But Republicans in D.C. would rather watch our kids die than take action. We need national gun safety laws, and we need them now.”
Mayoral candidate Rick Caruso tweeted Tuesday night, “As a father, my heart absolutely breaks for the families in Texas tonight. No parent should ever have to endure such unbearable loss. We have to do better as a country.”