Actor Matthew McConaughey’s defiant call for US gun control after Texas shooting

Two weeks after Shooting that left 21 dead at a Texas school (USA), actor Matthew McConaughey called for stricter gun control in a forceful speech from the White House.

Born in Uvaldesite of the massacre, McConaughey called Tuesday for “more responsible gun ownership” and launched an emotional call for US lawmakers to pass a gun control law.

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The protagonist of films such as Interstellar and Dallas Buyers Club (for the latter he won an Oscar in 2014) has publicly stated that is a gun owner of fire, but his speech was aimed at reinforcing background checks to acquire this type of weapon and increasing the minimum age from 18 to 21 years to buy an AR-15 rifle.

It is the type of semi-automatic weapon used by the suspect in the Uvalde shooting, an 18-year-old man.

Visibly moved, the 52-year-old actor narrated in his 22-minute speech stories that are hidden behind the list of names of those who died in the massacre.

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“Maite wore green high-top Converse with a hand-drawn heart on the right toe because it represented her love of nature,” McConaughey said, showing the victim’s sneakers, which were “the only evidence that could identify her after the shooting.” “.

And the actor stuck his fist in the gallery: “What do you think of this?” he exclaimed angrily.

To stop mass shootings in the United States, the actor stressed the need to “reasonable, practical and strategic” regulations.

McConaughey recalled his childhood in Uvalde and assured that this is where he learned to “revere the power and capacity of the tool we call a weapon.”

“Uvalde is where I learned about responsible gun ownership,” he said.

The actor, who had met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill hours earlier to discuss gun reform, called on politicians to change the way they approach their jobs.

“Let’s face it,” he commented. “We cannot truly be leaders if we only live for re-election.”

More than 650 firearms incidents since the shooting

Since the massacre at Uvalde Elementary School on May 24, the United States has experienced more than 650 firearms-related incidents, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

In total, at least 759 people have died, including 13 children and 48 adolescents. The wounded number more than 220.

In these two weeks since the massacre, there have been over 35 mass shootings in the US, which have left at least 38 dead and more than 160 injured.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.