"We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo."
In a post on Instagram, US actor Matthew McConaughey has paid tribute to the victims of
yesterday's shooting at a primary school in Texas.
21 people - two adults and 19 children - were killed by an 18-year-old gunman who entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. According to authorities, the suspect was shot dead by police.
McConaughey, who is from Uvalde himself, shared a statement on Instagram.
He wrote: "As you all are aware there was another mass shooting today, this time in my home town of Uvalde, Texas. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedom grants us.
"The true call to action is for every American to take a longer and deeper look in the mirror, and ask ourselves, 'What is it that we truly value? How do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state, and neighbourhood tomorrow?' We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd98t4GL0Eq/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=69e3e850-8839-4718-8520-447ce77da14c
The actor said that Americans need to "re-evaluate, and renegotiate our wants from our needs".
He wrote: "We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating
American reality that has tragically become our children's issue."
McConaughey then described school shootings in the US as "an epidemic we can control".
"Whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better," he said. "We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured."
He added: "And to those who dropped off their loved ones today not knowing it was goodbye, no words can comprehend or heal your loss, but if prayers can provide comfort, we will keep them coming."
In the past, McConaughey has expressed his support for the Second Amendment, but he has also called for common-sense gun laws.
