REST OF THIS COVERAGE. >> I’M STEVE SPRIESTER. WELCOME BACK TO OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE
OF THE AFTERMATH OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN ROBB ELEMENTARY ON
TUESDAY. WE ARE LIVE FROM TOWN
SQUARE PARK IN THE HEART OF
UVALDE. IT HAS BEEN A GATHERING
PLACE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
DAYS, BUT ESPECIALLY TODAY WE
HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE COME HERE JUST FEELING
COMPELLED TO BE PART OF WHAT IS
WE SAW THE MAYOR HERE. WE HAVE
SEEN CONGRESS PEOPLE HERE AND
WE’RE NOW JOINED BY STATE
SENATOR ROLAND GUTIERREZ.
YOUVALDEE IS PART OF YOUR
DISTRICT. YOU HAVE BEEN VERY
TELLING THE GOVERNOR DURING
A NEWS CONFERENCE THE OTHER DAY
WE NEED TO BE CALLED BACK FOR A
SPECIAL SESSION. I HAVE.
BEFORE YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.
TALK ABOUT THE PERSONAL ASPECT
OF THIS BECAUSE I’VE SEEN YOU.
TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE
WATCHING YOU WALK AROUND AND
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT CROSSES
AND THE THOSE BASES THAT ARE
ON THERE. TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS
HOW THIS HAS BEEN FOR YOU.
>> WE’LL STAY. I’VE BEEN HERE
SINCE TUESDAY MORNING AND I
GET HERE VERY EARLY. IT’S 90
MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE.
I LEAVE MIDNIGHT, GET HOME AT
ONE 30 EVERY DAY. IT’S KIND OF
BEEN THE SAME. AND IT FEELS
LIKE EVERY DAY IS THE SAME.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I’M JUST
TRYING TO VISIT ALL THE
FAMILIES. I CAN MAKE SURE THAT
THEY KNOW THAT.
WE’RE HERE FOR THEM. THE STATE
OF TEXAS IS HERE FROM THEY HAVE
ADEQUATE RESOURCES AND THAT
WE’RE GOING TO FIND ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES SO THEY CAN GO ON
WITH THEIR LIVES. WE CAN NEVER,
EVER BRING BACK THESE CHILDREN
TO THEM. WE’VE GOT TO FIND
SOMETHING THAT.
THAT MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE, LIKE
AT LEAST THAT THEY KNOW THEY’RE
LOVED.
TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU
ARE OPENING UP AN OFFICE IN NEW
VALLEY STARTING TOMORROW.
WE I’M SHUTTING MOVING MY EAGLE
PASS OFFICE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS. I MADE THAT DECISION
LAST NIGHT AND I’M MOVING IT
OVER HERE TO UVALDE. THIS IS
NOW GOING TO BE.
FOR THE REST OF MY POLITICAL
CAREER. THE ISSUE THAT I WORK
ON BECAUSE I DON’T WANT ANY ONE
OF MY COLLEAGUES TO EVER GO
THROUGH WHAT I’VE BEEN GOING
THROUGH.
MY EMOTIONS HAVE BEEN UP AND
DOWN, BUT IT’S NOTHING COMPARED
TO WHAT THESE FAMILIES HAVE
BEEN GOING THROUGH.
THEY’RE ON THE ROLLER COASTER
LOT RIDE THAT NONE OF US COULD
EVER WANT TO THINK. WE’RE GOING
TO SEE A SPECIAL SESSION.
YOU THINK THERE’S MOMENTUM FOR
A SPECIAL SESSION? I’VE
DEMANDED IT.
COG IN THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS HAS DEMANDED IT. WE’RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP
DEMANDING IT WITH THE GOVERNOR.
LISTEN, WE’VE GOT 80 PLUS DAYS
UNTIL WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
EVERY DAY. WE’RE GOING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT A SPECIAL
SESSION. HE HAS TO DO SOMETHING
REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENTS CALL ME
AND THEY TELL ME, HEY, WE NEED
TO RAISE THE AGE LIMIT. HOW IS
IT THAT AN 18 YEAR-OLD CAN GET
A GUN DOWN THE STREET? 1800
ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION BY ANOTHER
GUN THE NEXT DAY. AND NOBODY
BATS AN EYELASH.
IF THAT IS A RED FLAG, I DON’T
KNOW WHAT HE IS.
IT IS HIGH TIME FOR COMMON
SENSE GUN SOLUTIONS. WE CAN DO
IT. I SAT DOWN WITH MANY
REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENTS.
IT’S TIME THAT GREG ABBOTT
TELLS THE NRA TO GET THE OUT
OF HERE. LET US MAKE DECENT
SOLUTIONS HERE FOR TEXANS.
LET’S PUT POLITICS ASIDE.
PERSONAL LEVEL. I THINK IF
INCOME, YOU KNOW, CORRECT ME IF
I’M WRONG, THE FIRST. A FUNERAL
IS TOMORROW.
YOU HAVE TALKED TO THESE FAMILY
MEMBERS. YOU TALK TO PEOPLE
THAT ARE HURTING.
>> WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU?
AND WHAT ARE YOU TELLING THAT?
>> THEY’RE JUST DESTROYED.
YOU KNOW, YOU YOU CAN ONLY TELL
HIM THAT YOU’RE GOING TO BE
HERE FOR THEM. THEY HAVE A NEW
FRIEND.
AND THEY HAVE SOMEONE IS NOT
GOING AWAY. THAT’S WHAT THE
PRESIDENT TOLD ME TODAY SAID
I’M NOT GOING AWAY. HE SAYS
SOMEONE TO BRING YOUR
RESOURCES. WE’LL LOOK TO RAISE
AT SCHOOL. BUILD A NEW ONE.
WE’LL LOOK TO GETTING REAL
MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
WE HAVE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY
THAT IS GOING TO NEED THERAPY.
THERE’S ONE PSYCHIATRY STUN
YOUVALDEE VERY FEW MENTAL
HEALTH THERAPIST. WE’RE GOING
TO CHANGE THAT. IT IS A MUST.
I’VE ASKED ABBOTT TO GIVE US
2 MILLION DOLLARS TO FUND A
COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC.
HE HAS YET TO DO IT. WE’RE
GOING TO KEEP PUSHING HIM ON
THAT. IT’S PERSONAL. BUT IT’S
ALSO IT.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HOLD THESE PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE.
WE’LL TELL YOU WHAT MANY TOLD
ME. DON’T LET MY CHILD’S DEATH.
BE IN VAIN.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO
SOMETHING.
AND SO I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT
THIS UNTIL GREG ABBOTT AND MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES DO
SOMETHING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY. YOU GOT
A PLEDGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
TODAY THAT THEY WILL BASICALLY
KNOCKED DOWN ROBB ELEMENTARY
AND REBUILD THE NEW SCHOOL.
THERE’S A FEDERAL GRANT PROCESS
FOR IT. HE GIVES EAST. THAT’S
THE SAD PART. THERE’S A FEDERAL
PROTOCOL FOR SCHOOLS.
LIKE COLUMBINE AND OTHERS WHERE
THEY GIVE YOU UP TO 45 MILLION
DOLLARS.
>> WHAT KIND OF WORLD ARE WE
LIVING IN THAT LEGISLATION WAS
CREATED?
FOR RAISING THESE SCHOOLS YET.
I MEAN, IT MAKES NO SENSE.
I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY
LITTLE CHILDREN THAT I’VE
TALKED TO. THEY DON’T WANT TO
GO BACK INTO THAT BUILDING
COURSE. THEIR CHEST TRAUMATIZE
OR JUST DESTROYED. AND THAT’S
WHAT I’VE NOTICED IS THE KIDS
THAT ARE HERE.
>> THE KIDS THAT ARE 8, 9, 10,
11 YEAR-OLDS, LIKE MANY OF
THOSE STUDENTS THAT WERE IN
THAT SCHOOL THAT DAY. WE ARE
HERE DROPPING OFF THE FLOWERS,
TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT
TO SEE HAPPEN AHEAD. A LITTLE
BOY
HIS PARENTS THEY CAN GET
THROUGH. THEY WERE LETTING
ANYBODY DROP OFF FLOWERS.
AND THEY ASKED ME, CAN YOU GET
US THROUGH WHAT I CALL THE
TROOPERS? WELL, BOYS FROM DEL
RIO. AND HIS PARENTS AS MANY
GREAT HIM PERMISSION TO GO
UP THERE. IT WAS JUST ALL AND
HE BEGGED HIS PARENTS. HE JUST
WANTED TO COME HERE. HE MUST
HAVE BEEN IN THE 4TH GRADE 3RD
GRADE. AND THIS LITTLE BOY WAS
JST ALL IN. BUT HE DID,
THOUGH, ANY OF THESE KEEP IT.
BUT HE WAS JUST BAWLING MAN.
I’VE SEEN 100 TIMES THAT ROB.
I’VE SEEN IT 100 TIMES HERE.
I’VE SPENT EVERY DAY HERE I’M
NOT LEAVING WELL, BARRY, THESE
CHILDREN.
AND YOU’RE VISITING WITH THE
FAMILY MEMBER TONIGHT IS AN
ONGOING VISITING WITH THE
FAMILY. I WANTED TO GIVE
EVERYBOD THEIR SPACE. LOST
LOVED ONES. WELL, YOU WANT TO
DO IS JUST.
JUST HAVE YOUR CLOSE FAMILY.
AND SO THE LAST 48 HOURS HAVE
BEEN MEETING MORE AND MORE
FAMILIES ARE KEEP DOING THAT.
AND OF COURSE, VERY RESPECTFUL.
THIS IS JUST ABOUT THEM KNOWING
THAT.
THEY’RE GOING TO HEAD THE GOODS
AND SERVICES OF GOVERNMENT, AT
LEAST THROUGH THEIR GOVERNMENT.
OFFICIAL ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE
GOING TO BE HERE QUESTION.
I’VE ASKED PEOPLE FROM THIS
COMMUNITY. HOW DOES YOUVALDEE?
COME BACK FROM THIS?
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THIS
COMMUNITY COMES BACK? IT’S IT’S
A STRONG COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
SEEN THE STRENGTH. WE’VE SEEN
THE COMPASSION.
>> WE’VE SEEN THE LOVE, BUT
THIS IS A TRAUMA FOR THIS
ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF THIS ENTIRE
REGION OF THE STATE.
WE’LL SEE. WE’VE GOT TO START
TALKING TO EACH OTHER MORE.
I I DON’T WANT TO MAKE THIS A
PARTISAN DISCUSSION, BUT
WHETHER IT’S PARTISANSHIP OR
RACE OR COLOR OR RELIGION.
WE JUST HAVE TO START KNOWING
THAT WE’RE REALLY THE SAME.
WE HAVE THE SAME KIDS THAT WANT
TO GO TO AND HAVE DREAMS AND
ASPIRATIONS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT’S WHAT’S
HAPPENING NOW IN UVALDE
MOORE’S. EVERYBODY IS HUGGING
EACH OTHER AND THEY’RE LOVING
EACH OTHER. IT’S REALLY THAT
SIMPLE. TRULY LOVE RIGHT?
I TALKED TO THE MAYOR TO TODAY
AND WE’RE DIFFERENT PARTIES.
SAID MANY WHEN WE’RE TALKING
ABOUT SOLUTIONS. I SAID YOU,
YOU HELP ME TELL THIS,
GOVERNOR, WHEN YOU SPECIAL.
BECAUSE YOU AND I COULD AGREE
ON 3 THINGS, HE SAYS, YEAH,
WE COULD. YEAH, IT’S ABOUT
REALLY JUST TALKING BEING THERE
FOR ONE ANOTHER. IT’S SOMETHING
THAT IS JUST LACKING IN OUR.
IN OUR SOCIETY NOW. AND JUST
THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT WE’RE
ALL WANT THE SAME THINGS.
WE’RE GOING TO BE OK?
WAS FAMILIES, UNFORTUNATELY,
WILL NEVER, EVER GET THEIR
LITTLE CHILDREN BACK. BUT WE
HAVE TO AT LEAST LET THEM KNOW
THAT WE LOVE IT. THEY’RE AND
THEY’RE NOT ALONE. AND THEY’RE
NOT ALONE. AS LONG AS PEOPLE
KNOW, THEY’RE NOT ALONE.
WE’LL GET IT. WE’LL GET THEM
THROUGH THIS.
STATE. SENATOR ROLAND GUTIERREZ
IS ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
WE GO WAY BACK ITS OR SO.
IT’S GREAT TO SEE IT JUST
SHOWS. YEAH, THE SENIOR.
THANK YOU. PLEASE GIVE MY.
>> THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THE
FAMILY MEMBERS THAT YOU TALK
TO BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT ALONE.
THAT’S YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK
ALL RIGHT.
AN EMOTIONAL INTERVIEW WITH
STATE SENATOR ROLAND GUTIERREZ.
THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE
TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT ABOUT
WHAT HE PLANS TO DO IS GO TO
MOVIES FIELD OFFICE, ONE OF
THEM FROM EAGLE PASS TO HERE IN
THE VALLEY TO START A COUNTDOWN
TO THE START OF SCHOOL, TO TRY
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT’S GOING TO
CHANGE. WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN. YOU MIGHT ALSO NOTICE
THAT I’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
HOW QUIET IT IS, SOMBER.
IT IS. THERE IS LADY SONGS OVER
HERE TO MY LET’S JUST PUT UP
SOME SPEAKERS FOR SOME OF THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE ASSEMBLED HERE.
SO THE QUITE AS HAS BEEN BROKEN
FOR THE MOMENT. BUT THE TEARS
THAT YOU SAW SHED BY THE STATE
CENTER ARE FAR FROM THE ONLY
TEARS THAT WE’VE SEEN HERE SO
FAR TODAY. TIM COURTNEY, BACK
TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.