Ted Cruz has abruptly walked out of an interview after being asked about gun control reform following the school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
While speaking with Sky News reporter Matt Stone, the Texas Senator was asked how the Senate would respond to the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook, with 19 children and two teachers killed in the latest tragedy.
While expressing his grievances for parents who had lost their children due to the fatal attack, the reporter interrupted the Republican to ask: “Is this the moment to reform gun laws?”
Cruz responded: “You know it’s easy to go to politics.”
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To which the reporter said: “It’s important. It’s at the heart of the issue.”
“I get that’s where the media like to go,” Cruz said. “The proposals from Democrats and the media, inevitably when some violent psychopath murders people."
However, the reporter then corrected the Senator by saying: “A violent psychopath, whose able to get a weapon so easily. An 18-year-old with two AR-15s.”
To which Cruz responded: “If you want to stop violent crime, the proposals the Democrats have, none of this would have stopped this.”
The former Solicitor General of Texas became seemingly more annoyed when Stone asked him: “But why does this only happen in your country? I really think that’s what people around the world, they just..can not fathom.
"Why only in America? Why is this American exceptionalism so awful?”
Cruz then accused the reporter of having a a ‘political agenda’ to ask such questions before storming out of the interview.
As Cruz walked away, Stone continued to ask him why he didn’t think gun law reform was necessary for preventing countless mass shootings.
However, the Senator turned back to ask the reporter: “Why is it that people from all over the world come to America? Because it’s the freest, most prosperous, safest country on Earth. And stop being a propagandist.”
This year alone, America has recorded 212 mass shootings, with 27 being school shootings.
Many Democrats in Congress have advocated for stricter gun laws nationwide, including mandatory background checks and prohibiting assault rifles.
Despite 84 per cent of US voters supporting universal background checks for gun purchases, according to a Morning Consult/Politico survey conducted last year, multiple pieces of legislation continue to face pushback in the Senate.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a fierce advocate for gun law reform, told CNN this week: “I’m going to try all day today to try to find some compromise, but this is ultimately up to voters.
“If [candidates] support the current law, if they don’t support reform [instead], then don’t send them back to Congress.”
Charisa Bossinakis