The Robb Elementary taking pictures on Tuesday in Texas has sparked quite a few debates on what was the reason for the tragedy in addition to the preventative measures that must be launched.

At the very least 19 younger youngsters and two academics had been killed following the taking pictures on the college in Uvalde, Texas, authorities mentioned. The gunman, recognized as Salvador Ramos, 18, was killed by authorities throughout the incident.

Among the many many causes instructed, right-wing commentators have supplied six important recommendations that could possibly be blamed for the taking pictures: lockdowns because of COVID-19, psychological well being points, an absence of weapons in colleges, unlocked doorways at colleges, youngsters not being residence schooled, and the impression of social media.

School kids
Following the mass taking pictures at Robb Elementary College, a number of Republicans have instructed the way to forestall future shootings and supplied the reason why the tragedy occurred. Above, a inventory picture of kids working at a college. Getty Photographs

Lockdowns As a result of COVID-19

Fox Information' Tucker Carlson questioned whether or not lockdown had an impression on psychological well being and was a contributing issue throughout his present on Wednesday evening.

"So the lockdowns [have] dramatically elevated cases of psychological sickness amongst younger folks and in 10 days we now have seen two mass shootings by mentally unwell younger folks. Might there be a connection?" Carlson mentioned. "That isn't finger-pointing, that isn't responsible Dr. Anthony Fauci for yesterday's taking pictures, we're not that low, we're not Joe Biden."

He continued: "But when individuals are turning into mentally unwell as a result of they're disconnected from others what can we do to attach them to others and thereby scale back the occasion of psychological sickness? That is a crucial query, is there a extra vital one?"

Psychological Well being Points

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas instructed throughout a Wednesday press convention that psychological well being was a purpose for the taking pictures and dismissed the concept new gun rules had been wanted.

"The flexibility of an 18-year-old to purchase a protracted gun has been in place within the state of Texas for greater than 60 years, and take into consideration throughout the time over the course of that 60 years, we now have not had episodes like this," Abbott mentioned.

"One factor that has considerably modified," he continued, "is the standing of psychological well being in our communities. What I do know is that this: we as a state, we as a society, must do a greater job with psychological well being. Anyone who shoots anyone else has a psychological well being problem, interval."

A Lack of Weapons in Colleges

Some politicians have argued that mass shootings in colleges could possibly be higher prevented if colleges have extra weapons in them, saved by both academics or safety.

Former Speaker of the Home Newt Gingrich has instructed giving further pay value $500 to academics who're prepared to hold firearms and be educated to guard youngsters in colleges. Gingrich, a Republican, advised Fox Information' Laura Ingraham on Wednesday that every college ought to have some members of workers who're educated and who might obtain further pay in consequence.

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz mentioned that putting extra armed officers in colleges or giving academics weapons would forestall mass shootings. Cruz proposed stationing extra armed regulation enforcement officers at colleges, saying this might be more practical than tightening gun management legal guidelines.

"We all know from previous expertise that the simplest device for holding children protected is armed regulation enforcement on the campus," the senator advised reporters. "Inevitably, when there is a homicide of this type, you see politicians attempt to politicize it. You see Democrats and plenty of of us within the media whose instant answer is to attempt to prohibit the constitutional rights of law-abiding residents. That does not work."

Unlocked Doorways at Colleges

Cruz additionally spoke to reporters following the taking pictures and instructed that college layouts wanted to alter to forestall mass shootings. He mentioned that there must be one door for entrance and exit from the varsity and no unlocked again doorways.

"The killer entered right here the identical means the identical means the killer entered at Sante Fe, by a again door, an unlocked again door," Cruz mentioned. "I sat down at spherical tables with the households from Sante Fe and we talked about what we have to do to harden colleges, together with not having unlocked again doorways."

"Having one door that goes out and in of the varsity and having armed cops at that one door," he mentioned.

Youngsters Not Being Dwelling Schooled

On-line conservative publication The Federalist instructed that the taking pictures on the elementary college strengthened the argument for residence education.

"Title-calling, blame-shifting, and requires gun restrictions fill social media within the public's quest to discover a answer. However to guard essentially the most valuable harmless lives amongst us, mother and father should educate their children at residence," the article mentioned.

It went on to say that the federal government can't be trusted to guard the lives of its workers or its youngsters at college and was vital of faculties that create gun-free zones slightly than guaranteeing a number of safety guards are carrying a weapon to make use of in an emergency.

The Affect of Social Media

Former Fox sports activities radio host and commentator Jason Whitlock spoke to Tucker Carlson on Wednesday and mentioned that the affect of social media was related to the taking pictures.

"Large tech, these social media apps, this dopamine habit that they've given all of us, our smartphones, they're our enemies," Whitlock mentioned. "They're disconnecting our human connection, this younger man, Salvador Ramos lived a really remoted life."

He added: "This entire world we now have constructed, this social media matrix, it isn't good for our minds. Take it down to those children, and the way they constructed their complete lives round their social media platforms. 'How can I be well-known?' They usually do not care the way you change into well-known over social media, if it is the slaughter of different human beings or if it is shaking your rear finish nakedly on OnlyFans accounts. No matter it takes.

"We bought a psychological sickness pandemic occurring throughout America, actually throughout the globe, and we're ignoring it as a result of 'hey, let's simply do away with the weapons,'" he mentioned.

Newsweek reached out to Fox Information, Ted Cruz, Jason Whitlock, Newt Gingrich and The Federalist for remark.