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       GOP senator caught on his phone at opening of emotional hearing into Buffalo massacre

       The House Oversight Committee is meeting on Wednesday for its own response to the twin massacres in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York following the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on Tuesday regarding the rise of domestic terrorism.

       Loved ones of victims in the two shootings will be on Capitol Hill for the first time since the two tragedies unfolded as a bipartisan group in the Senate meets to discuss a path forward on firearms and school security legislation.

       Lawmakers are debating a number of potential responses to the two deadly shootings, which both involved AR-15-styled rifles wielded by suspects under the age of 21. The suspect in Buffalo, unlike in Uvalde, is thought to have had a clear racist motive for his attack.

       But any path to legislation reaching Joe Biden’s desk must pass through the evenly-divided Senate, where it will need the votes of at least ten Republicans to pass.

       On Tuesday, actor Matthew McConnaughey gave an impassioned speech on guns to the White House press briefing.

       Recommended Matthew McConaughey’s emotional White House briefing speech in full Fox News host calls Matthew McConaughey ‘someone from Hollywood’ in response to emotive gun control speech Taser-equipped drone designed to stop mass shootings put on hold Arizona police watched a man drown. Uvalde police stood outside the school. What are cops even for?

       Key Points Matthew McConaughey joins White House press briefing on Tuesday Oversight committee to hear stories of gun violence victims on Wednesday McConaughey denies political ambitions Pro-gun groups warn followers to be ready for ‘battle’ at Capitol

       Show latest update 1654669200 How many senators have shot an AR-15?

       Much of the conversation around potential responses to the massacres in New York and Texas have focused on the high-powered semiautomatic AR-15-style rifles used by the shooters in both attacks.

       Many Republican are opposed to the idea of raising the age limit for buying AR-15s and other assault-style weapons, while almost all are opposed to banning their sale altogether.

       The Independent’s Eric Garcia tracked down Republican members of the Senate with one question as conversations about how to deal with such weapons continue: Have you, personally, shot one?

       GOP senators with gun control in their hands say whether they own or have shot AR-15 The Independent contacted multiple Republican senators to ask whether they own or have shot an AR-15. Here’s what they told Eric Garcia

       John Bowden 8 June 2022 07:20

       1654668023 Teacher shot in Uvalde reveals how children called out to ‘coward’ police

       Arnulfo Reyes, a fourth-grade teacher who was shot during the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, has recounted how children called out for police to help them before they died.

       Speaking to ABC’s Good Morning America, he said that he was in classroom 111 along with his students, which was connected to one of the rooms where the gunman began shooting.

       Mr Reyes said he heard officers outside the classroom as a child in the other room asked for help, adding that he believes the officer had walked away without hearing the calls for aid.

       “One of the students from the next-door classroom was saying, ‘Officer, we’re in here. We’re in here,’” Mr Reyes said. “But they had already left.”

       Gustaf Kilander has more:

       Shot Uvalde teacher reveals children called out to ‘coward’ police before they died ‘When things go bad, it seems like an eternity. The only thing that I can say is I felt like my blood was like an hourglass’

       Sravasti Dasgupta 8 June 2022 07:00

       1654666823 Families urge for action and responsibility after Uvalde shooting

       Ahead of the House Oversight Committee meeting on Wednesday to hear stories of gun violence’s impact on families, those who have lost their children in the shooting have urged for action and responsibility.

       “We need to take some kind of action and have some kind of responsibility and control of what we are doing,” said Vincent Salazar, the grandfather of Layla Salazar, who was killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting.

       Sravasti Dasgupta 8 June 2022 06:40

       1654665600 Fox News host attacks Matthew McConaughey over emotional gun control plea

       Fox News’s Sandra Smith mocked Matthew McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, Texas, after he delivered an emotional plea for change on Tuesday in response to nearly two dozen elementary schoolers in his hometown.

       Falsely describing the actor as coming “from Hollywood”, the Chicago-born Smith (who lives in New York City, a bastion of the Democratic Party), quipped that the actor’s gripping remarks about the slain children in Uvalde were an example of “Someone from Hollywood calling to restore our family values”.

       Read more in The Independent from Graeme Massie:

       Fox News host attacks Matthew McConaughey over emotional gun control plea Oscar-winner passionately made his case for action over gun violence in America

       John Bowden 8 June 2022 06:20

       1654664906 App allegedly used by Uvalde gunman adds new 'safety features'

       Social media app Yubo said on Tuesday that the platform is adding new safety features and updating its usage guidelines following news that the gunman in Texas’Robb Elementary School mass shootout allegedly used the app to send disturbing messages.

       “The devastating events of 24 May in Uvalde, Texas, brought to light systemic issues in society that need to be addressed,” Yubo CEO Sacha Lazimi said in a statement.

       “In the days since, we have been working to accelerate safety developments in our pipeline and further expand the scope of existing safeguards across our platform.”

       Media reports said that gunman Salvador Ramos appeared to have sent concerning messages regarding his intentions about violence at school on the app.

       Yubo representatives said that app’s risk-detection policy has been updated, reported ABC.

       They have also enhanced its user-reporting capabilities, and introduced audio-moderation technology for live streams that they say will allow for “comprehensive automatic moderation across the platform.”

       Videos of Salvador Ramos have surfaced amid reports he made threats of violence, including rape, online

       (Screenshot / CNN)

       Sravasti Dasgupta 8 June 2022 06:08

       1654664185 Families of children injured in Uvalde school shooting file lawsuit

       The families of four students injured in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, are suing the gunman’s estate.

       A lawsuit was filed by attorney Thomas J. Henry on behalf of the families in a Texas district court on Monday, reported ABC.

       “This initial lawsuit will allow us to discover evidence and possibly add other parties to the lawsuit, if necessary,” Mr Henry said in a press release.

       “The discovery process will focus on the school system, law enforcement, social media, and gun and ammunition manufacturers.”

       The lawyer’s firm will also investigate shooter Salvador Ramos’ past to see if he had a violent history.

       In addition, Alfred Garza, the father of Amerie Jo Garza, one of the children killed in the Uvalde shooting, has hired Connecticut lawyers who successfully sued the manufacturer of the gun used in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

       (Getty Images)

       Sravasti Dasgupta 8 June 2022 05:56

       1654662631 How many Republicans senators have used an AR-15?

       As the powerful AR-15 rifle has received increased attention following the devastating shootings in Buffalo, New York and in Uvalde, Texas, The Independent asked Republican senators if they have used or owned an AR-15.

       Here’s what the Republican senators reached by The Independent said about their own experiences – or lack thereof – with the powerful rifles.

       We asked Republican Senators if they’ve shot an AR-15. This is what they told us The Independent contacted multiple Republican senators to ask whether they own or have shot an AR-15. Here’s what they told Eric Garcia

       Sravasti Dasgupta 8 June 2022 05:30

       1654661640 Republican senate whip mocked for saying AR-15s are needed to shoot prairie dogs

       Conservatives have come up with all kinds of reasons why the average American needs access to a semiautomatic weapon designed to operate as civilian versions of military rifles.

       The latest offering, from GOP Senator John Thune, involves the high-powered rifle’s usage in hunting prarie dogs, small rodents which burrow underground.

       Some states do not have restrictions on the usage of firearms to hunt such animals, which are considered pests in some areas. But it’s unclear why a high-powered assault weapon would be needed for such small creatures.

       Read more from The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander:

       Republican senate whip mocked for saying AR-15s are needed to shoot prairie dogs ‘If you need a weapon of war to shoot a two pound rodent, you are an idiot’

       John Bowden 8 June 2022 05:14

       1654660095 11-year-old Uvalde survivor to testify to Congress

       11-year-old Miah Cerillo who survived the Uvalde shooting by smearing a deceased classmate’s blood over her body and playing dead will testify before Congress on Wednesday.

       She will join those impacted by the Buffalo shooting to speak before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform for a hearing titled “The Urgent Need to Address the Gun Violence Epidemic”.

       Miah was one of a group of 4th graders trapped for about an hour in a classroom with Uvalde gunman Salvador Ramos.

       The Independent’s Josh Marcus has more:

       Uvalde survivor who covered herself in blood and played dead to testify to Congress Survivors of Uvalde and Buffalo shooting will join hearing

       Sravasti Dasgupta 8 June 2022 04:48

       1654658136 John Cornyn can cut a deal with Democrats on guns — but he’s got a Ted Cruz problem

       As senators meet to discuss a potential path forward for reforms aimed at stopping the trends of gun violence and mass shootings in America, the lead GOP negotiator is walking a delicate balance between working with Democrats to address a real problem and assuaging his party’s far-right base.

       John Cornyn’s dangerous job is excacerbated by the presence of Ted Cruz, his Texas colleague and the state’s junior senator, who has come out strongly against further efforts to restrict firearm ownership.

       The Independent’s Eric Garcia takes a look at the behind-the-scenes relationship between the two senators representing the Lone Star State:

       John Cornyn can cut a deal with Democrats on guns — but he’s got a Ted Cruz problem Cornyn is facing the ultimate test of his power

       John Bowden 8 June 2022 04:15

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