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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Craig Meighan

Andy Murray calls Texas school shooting 'madness' after 19 children shot dead

Andy Murray was present during the Dunblane massacre

ANDY Murray has expressed his anger over a school shooting in America that left 19 children dead, calling it "f***ing madness".

The Scottish tennis champion, who was present at the 1996 Dunblane massacre, was responding to a tweet by Piers Morgan on the attack.

The presenter called the news “absolutely horrendous” before adding: “I don’t know what else to say about these endless US gun massacres - it’s for Americans to resolve but where is the will?”

Murray replied: "F***ing madness".

Murray, who was nine years old at the time, was present alongside his brother Jamie, at Dunblane Primary School in 1996 when Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 pupils and one teacher before killing himself.

The attack remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history and led to gun reform throughout the UK.

The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 was introduced the following year which, after a second amendment, banned all cartridge ammunition handguns in England, Scotland and Wales.

Murray's comments follow calls from US President Joe Biden for new restrictions on firearms in America following the tragedy.

In an emotional address to his nation from the White House, Biden pleaded for action to curb gun violence after years of failure – and blamed firearms manufacturers and their supporters for blocking legislation in Washington.

Robb Elementary School is in shock after 19 pupils were killed

He said: “When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?”

The US leader spoke just hours after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, 85 miles west of San Antonio, killing at least 19 children and two adults.

It is America’s deadliest school shooting since 20 children and six adults died at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in late 2012.

Former president Barack Obama took to Twitter to echo Biden's calls for gun reform.

He said: “Across the country, parents are putting their children to bed, reading stories, singing lullabies—and in the back of their minds, they’re worried about what might happen tomorrow after they drop their kids off at school, or take them to a grocery store or any other public space.

"Michelle and I grieve with the families in Uvalde, who are experiencing pain no one should have to bear.

"We’re also angry for them. Nearly 10 years after Sandy Hook—and 10 days after Buffalo—our country is paralysed, not by fear, but by a gun lobby and a political party that have shown no willingness to act in any way that might help prevent these tragedies.

"It’s long past time for action, any kind of action. And it’s another tragedy—a quieter but no less tragic one—for families to wait another day."

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