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Topics: Texas, Matthew McConaughey, News, no-article-matching
Shola Lee
Matthew McConaughey gave an emotional speech at the White House, following the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teachers were killed.
On Tuesday (7 June), the Uvalde-born actor took to the podium to plea for stricter gun control in the US.
A plea that becomes all the more pertinent when learning that the shooter, Salvador Ramos, legally purchase two AR-15-style rifles on soon as his 18th birthday passed, one of which he used during the shooting.
McConaughey said: "To make the loss of these lives matter my wife and I, Camila spent most of last week on the ground in Uvalde, Texas. We shared stories, tears, and memories.
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"The common thread, independent of the anger, confusion and sadness, it was the same: how can these families continue to honour these deaths by keeping the dreams of these children and teachers alive.
"Again, how can the loss of these lives matter?"
The actor went on to say that he and his wife came to the White House in the hopes of urging politicians to make meaningful change with regards to gun controls.
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McConaughey, an Uvalde native, goes on to reveal how his mother taught kindergarten less than a mile from Robb elementary and that upon learning the news he and his family drove back to his home town.
He said: "I've got to tell you, even from inside of our vehicle, you could feel the shock in the town, you could feel the pain, the denial, the disillusion, anger, blame, sadness.
"The loss of lives and dreams halted."
He goes on to share the stories of the children killed in the massacre.
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One, Alithia Ramirez, 10, dreamed of going to art school in Paris and to share her art with the world.
Another victim, Maite Rodriguez, 10, wanted to a marine biologist and was even in 'contact with Corpus Christi University' with the hopes of attending one day.
McConaughey said: "Maite wore green high top converse, with a heart she had drawn on the right toe, because they represent her love of nature."
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McConaughey then pointed to the shoes his wife, Camila, was holding an explained that Maite would 'wear these shoes everyday, the green converse with a heard on the right toe'.
He went on: "These are the same green converse on her feet that turned out to be the only clear evidence that could identify her after the shooting. How about that?"
Another victim Ellie Garcia, 9, loved to dance and 'was the biggest hugger in the family'.
Relaying the words he heard from families of the victims and the on the scene, McConaughey pled: "We want secure and safe schools and we want gun laws that wont make it so easy for the bad guys to get these damn guns."
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The current age to legally purchase an AR-15 gun in Texas is 18.
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