A US governor was angrily confronted by a political rival about a lack of gun laws after yesterday's school massacre which saw 19 children and two teachers killed.
Gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, shot dead 19 children aged between nine and 11, as well as two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday.
Governor Greg Abbott, who represents the state, was told "It's on you!" by former presidential candidate and upcoming election foe Beto O'Rourke during the exchange today at a press briefing in the town.
Democrat O'Rourke, 49, is a candidate for the 2022 Texas gubernatorial election in November, challenging the incumbent Republican governor.
A panel of officials, including Abbott, were sharing the latest details of the shooting when O'Rourke interrupted, saying: “You are doing nothing...This is totally predictable.”
But with the governor remaining silent, fellow panelist Lt. Gov Dan Patrick told the heckler: "You're out of line and an embarrassment."
He then called him a "sick son of a b****" for coming to the briefing to make such an outburst.
Patrick then repeated: "Sir, you are out of line!" several times, before telling him to "please leave this auditorium" as O'Rourke continued and was met by security.
The heckler was surrounded by press photographers as he was escorted out.
As he reached the door, he turned and said: "It's on you..."
Patrick cut him off, yelling: "It's on a****** like you! Why don't you get out of here?"
O'Rourke continued to speak as he jabbed his finger towards the stage but his words were drowned out by calls from the audience.
A woman in the audience can be heard screaming: "Go home!"
As O'Rourke walked up the stairs and out of the auditorium, a man can be heard saying: "That's the First Amendment of the Constitution."
The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise.
It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Following Tuesday's massacre, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass gun safety legislation.
"We know common-sense gun laws can't and won't prevent every tragedy," he said.
"But we know they work and have a positive impact. When we passed the assault weapons ban - mass shootings went down. When the law expired - mass shootings tripled."
However, despite the crisis, politicians are expected to leave for a recess on Thursday, not returning until next week to discuss possible gun law reforms.
O'Rourke served as the US representative for Texas's 16th congressional district from 2013 to 2019.
He was also a candidate for the US Senate in 2018 and for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
