'You are doing nothing': O'Rourke accosts Abbott at press conference on shooting

Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke confronted Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference on Wednesday, accusing the governor of inaction on gun violence in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

Abbott, flanked by law enforcement officers and fellow Republican lawmakers, had just wrapped up giving an update on the Uvalde, Texas, shooting Wednesday afternoon — in which he said mental health was the root cause of the deadly event — when O'Rourke approached the stage.

“Governor Abbott, I have to say something,” O’Rourke, who is running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Abbott in November’s midterm elections, said. “The time to stop the next shooting is right now and you are doing nothing.”

The totality of O’Rourke’s remarks were difficult to hear as he was shouted down by those on stage who were speaking into microphones. Among those attempting to speak over O’Rourke was Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, who told the former El Paso congressman to "sit down" and that he was "an embarrassment.”

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, standing behind Abbott, shouted at O'Rourke, "I can't believe you're a sick son of a b---- that would come to a deal like this to make a political issue."

When O'Rourke yelled toward the stage, “It’s on you,” McLaughlin replied: “It’s on assholes like you. Why don’t you get out of here.”

O'Rourke was escorted out of the event by security.

O'Rourke’s outburst seemed to channel the nationwide outrage from advocates for stricter gun laws that has followed Tuesday's shooting. That attack has prompted Democrats in Washington to relaunch efforts to enact gun restrictions despite widespread skepticism within the caucus that such legislation has any realistic chance of winning enough Republican support to pass.

Prior to O'Rourke approaching the stage, Abbott cited “a problem with mental health illness” in the Uvalde community as the reason for the shooting — a common refrain from Republicans who claim that stricter gun laws would not work to prevent mass shootings. Abbott said he had spoken with the county’s sheriff, the mayor, community leaders and elected officials, who agreed that the area needs more mental health support.

The governor said earlier in the conference that the gunman has no known criminal or mental health history.

Abbott attempted to redirect the press conference after O’Rourke’s outburst, saying the focus needs to be on “healing and hope” for the victims’ families and not “our agendas.”

“There are family members who are crying as we speak. There are family members whose hearts are broken,” Abbott said. “There’s no words that anybody shouting can come up here and do anything to heal those broken hearts.”