Republicans blast O'Rourke for politicizing deadly Texas school shooting

The Democratic Party’s leading Texas gubernatorial candidate, Beto O’Rourke, came under fire after interrupting a Wednesday afternoon press conference in Uvalde, Texas, in order to blast Republican officials for not passing gun control legislation in light of the tragic elementary school shooting.

O’Rourke unexpectedly interrupted a press conference being held by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and other elected officials in response to the deadly school shooting on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School where an 18-year-old male shot and killed at least 19 children before being shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

"Gov. Abbott, I have to say something," yelled O'Rourke about 15 minutes after the televised event began. “The time to stop the next shooting is right now and you are doing nothing.”

"You said this is not predictable. This is totally predictable," he said about Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 students and two teachers dead. 

"This will continue to happen. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed, just like they were killed in Uvalde yesterday," the former El Paso, Texas congressman added.

O’Rourke, who has been vocal about gun control in the past, said that the Texas governor’s "only interest is the gun lobby."

"Five of the worst mass hosting in US history, right here in this state in the last five years. He was governor for every single one of them," he continued.

But O’Rourke’s outburst has been met by wide criticism, and many pundits have accused the Democratic lawmaker of politicizing the death of the children in order to promote his policies.

During the press conference, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin confronted O’Rourke, saying, “I can’t believe that you’re a sick son of a b**** that would come to a deal like this to make a political issue,” The Texas Tribune reported.

“Beto danced on the dead bodies of children,” political commentator Mike Cernovich tweeted. “He’ll be celebrated by the regime media for this. They have no decency.”

“You're out of line and an embarrassment," said Texas Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. 

“I can’t believe that you’re a sick son of a bitch that would come to a deal like this to make a political issue,” the Mayor of Uvalde, Don McLaughlin, said.

"Sit down and don't play this stunt," Senator Ted Cruz told O’Rourke.

O’Rourke was escorted out of the premises by security officers. 

Meanwhile, the governor addressed the attendees, calling for unity. “There are family members that are crying as we speak," he said.

"There are family members whose hearts are broken. There’s no words that anybody shouting can come up here and do anything to heal these broken hearts.”

Abbot and O’Rourke will face off in the next gubernatorial race in November.