A fleet of 52 empty school buses drove through Texas and onto Senator Ted Cruz’s home on Thursday (14 July).
The vehicles formed the shape of a rifle and together contained 4,368 empty seats to represent the number of children killed by gun violence since 2020.
In recent years, gun violence has overtaken motor vehicle accidents to become the leading cause of injury-related death for US children.
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The idea to drive a mile-long convoy of empty buses through the state was conceived by the NRA Children’s Museum, a new project striving to raise awareness of the impact mass shootings are having on American children.
The bus at the front of the fleet had been turned into a makeshift museum showcasing items that once belonged to school shooting victims across America.
The collection contains photos, audio, videos and personal items that belonged to children killed during mass shootings, from a Girl Scout sash to a Nickelodeon backpack.
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Manuel Oliver, NRA Children’s Museum co-founder, said in a statement: “To commemorate this horrific historic moment, we are showing American voters the toll these politicians have taken on our children’s lives with this all-too-real archive.”
Manuel continued: “And this is only the beginning. We will not stop with Sen. Ted Cruz. To every politician who has stood by, taken NRA money, and refused to listen to the people they represent: the museum is on the way to honour you next.”
Manuel and his wife Patricia decided to found the organisation after losing their son Joaquin in 2018’s mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Patricia added: "We want to display, for the voters who keep these politicians in office, the consequences of those choices. We want voters to remember which politicians are in the pocket of the NRA when they visit the polls in November.”
Heartbreakingly, a month before their son was killed, Manuel and Patricia found a letter written by their son that addressed gun control in America.
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The letter had been written as part of a school project and read: "I am writing this letter to talk to you about how we're going to solve this gun law movement.
“Most of you have a problem with the idea of universal background check. Why are you mad that there's a background check it's for your own good. Maybe you are fond of having crazy people with death machines. You shouldn't have anything against background checks if you're innocent." [sic]
UNILAD has approached Ted Cruz’s office for comment.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Topics: US News, World News, Politics