welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... another mass shooting in the united states — at least 1a children and a teacher have been killed at a primary school in texas. the attack happened in the city of uvalde. police have named the gunman as 18—year—old salvador ramos. resident biden has called forflags to ramos. resident biden has called for flags to be flown at half mast. he's do to address the nation shortly. that's president biting arriving at the andrew airbase

—— president biden. we are expecting him to speak very shortly on this. he just come back from his trip around asia. my back from his trip around asia. my from our studio in singapore... this is a bbc news. it's newsday. let's start with some breaking news for you. i gunman has shot dead at least 1a students and a teacher at a primary school in the us state of texas. the students were in second, third and fourth grades, meaning they were between the ages of 7—10. the governor of the state, greg abbott, said the suspected attacker was 18—year—old salvador ramos, who is believed to be killed by law enforcement

officers. the shooting was in the city of uvalde, around 135 km west of san antonio at the robb elementary school. the assailant is thought to have had a handgun and possibly a rifle, and the white house as president biden will continue to be briefed resident regularly as expected. we've just seen him arrive at that airbase off his trip from asia, and that a state —— that statement is expected. greg abbott had made this statement just over an hour ago.— just over an hour ago. first, i want to tell _ just over an hour ago. first, i want to tell you _ just over an hour ago. first, i want to tell you that - just over an hour ago. first, i want to tell you that what - want to tell you that what happened in uvalde is a horrific tragedy. it cannot be tolerated in the state of texas. and there is swift action being taken by local law enforcement as well as the texas department of public safety. they obviously now know who the shooter was and he is no longer alive. let me give

you some details and i'll give you some details and i'll give you an estimation. the shooter was a salvador ramos, an 18—year—old male who resided in uvalde. it's believed he abandon his vehicle and entered into the robb elementary school into the robb elementary school in uvalde with a handgun and maybe also a rifle, but that's not yet confirmed. he shot and killed horrifically, incomprehensibly, 1a students and killed a teacher. mr ramos, the shooter, he himself is deceased. it's believed that responding officers killed him. it appears that two responding officers were struck by rounds, but have no serious injuries. the uvalde independent school district police department is

the investigating agency, and we will provide them and the city of uvalde substantial assistance when the process of obtaining detailed background information on the subject, his motive, the weapons used, the legal authorities to possess them and conduct an investigation and reconstruction and identify and provide victim services and other support as needed. this victor exelon is the south texas nature —— regional director and is on the scene and everything that can be done will be done. in addition to that, it is being reported the subject shot his grandmother right before he went into the school, and there is... i have no further information about the connection between those two shootings. the subject is reported to be a student, to have been a student at uvalde

high school and is a us citizen. when parents drop their kids off at school, they have every expectation to know that they're going to be able to pick their child up when that school day ends. and there are families who are in mourning right now in the state of texas, which is in morning with them to the reality that these parents who will not be able to pick up their children. ourjob is multifold. first, to make sure we address exactly what happened and second, to make sure we take that information and do everything thatis information and do everything that is necessary to ensure that is necessary to ensure that crime scenes like this are not going to be repeated in the future, and then we will be able to ensure the safety and security of our schools.- security of our schools. that was the governor _ security of our schools. that was the governor of - security of our schools. that was the governor of texas, | security of our schools. that was the governor of texas, greg abbott. speaking about the

latest events, but also making a reference to what a devastating tragedy this is for the families that are involved in this and saying that when parents drop their children to school, they expect to be able to pick them up in the afternoon. investigations are continuing, and we've heard from the chief of police, who gave us this latest update. at gave us this latest update. at approximately 11:32 a:m., there was a _ approximately 11:32 a:m., there was a mass _ approximately 11:32 a:m., there was a mass casualty at robb elementary school. the school has children in second, third and — has children in second, third and fourth grade. i can't confirm _ and fourth grade. i can't confirm —— can divert we have several— confirm —— can divert we have several injuries and some deaths _ several injuries and some deaths. the suspect is deceased at this_ deaths. the suspect is deceased at this point. bps are assisting with the investigation, and it is leading to tell us that the suspect did act alone during this heinous crime. families are being _ this heinous crime. families are being notified and we are providing services to them as

the dick's _ providing services to them as the dick's trick showed. as far as the — the dick's trick showed. as far as the rest— the dick's trick showed. as far as the rest of the district is concerned, we were —— measures were taken— concerned, we were —— measures were taken -- _ concerned, we were —— measures were taken —— as the district showed~ _ were taken —— as the district showed. and we have numerous law enforcement officers that assisted with the release of those — assisted with the release of those students. we want to keep other— those students. we want to keep other families in our prayers and — other families in our prayers and we _ other families in our prayers and we also want to respect the privacy— and we also want to respect the privacy privacy of the families. we'll notify the parents and the families as soon — parents and the families as soon as— parents and the families as soon as we have news from them. that _ soon as we have news from them. that was _ soon as we have news from them. that was the chief of police there. as we've been telling you, there are statements coming in from the white house. we can go live now and listen to kamala harris, who has been speaking. taste to kamala harris, who has been s-ueakin. ~ ., ., speaking. we would all say naturally — speaking. we would all say naturally that _ speaking. we would all say naturally that our - speaking. we would all say naturally that our hearts i naturally that our hearts break, but our hearts keep getting broken. ithink break, but our hearts keep getting broken. i think so

many... there are so many elected leaders in this room know what i'm talking about. every time a tragedy like this happens, our hearts break. in our broken hearts are nothing compared to the broken hearts of those families. yet it keeps happening. so, ithink of those families. yet it keeps happening. so, i think we all and have said many times, i noticed on is enough —— enough is enough. as a nation, we have to have the courage to take action and understand the nexus between what makes for reasonable and sensible public policy to ensure something like that this never happens again. so, the president will speak more about this later. but for now, i willjust say

more about this later. but for now, i will just say to more about this later. but for now, i willjust say to the people of uvalde, please know that this is a roomful of leaders who agree with you, and we are praying for you and we stand with you. and it is difficult at a time like this to think about much else, but i do look around this room and i know who is here and i know this is a roomful of american leaders who know and have the courage to take a stand. so, let us tonight, as we do every time together, recommit ourselves to having the courage to take action. so, that does bring me to the latest and the leaders. i want to thank chairwomanjudy for that chairwoman judy for that introduction. i had chairwomanjudy for that introduction. i had the opportunity to see her

leadership first—hand, and she is truly a national leader who lifts up the people of our country. of course, i'm honoured tonight to be with congresswoman marilyn strickland, the board of apaics, all of the federal state and local elected officials who are here, and so many friends and former colleagues. this is the first... colleagues. this is the first- - -_ first... studio: that _ first. . . studio: that was - first. . . studio: that was the i first... studio: | that was the us first... studio: - that was the us vice first... studio: _ that was the us vice president kamala harris addressing the asia—pacific institute for congressional studies, where she was for news when —— when news of this tragedy struck. she said the president of the united states is going to say more about this later and reiterate the fact to the people of uvalde, this time of this happened, please know that this happened, please know that this is a roomful of leaders who grieve with you. she also reflected on the fact that at a time like this, it is so difficult to think of anything else but this tragedy, and she

appealed to the leaders in the room that she was speaking to to say that this sort of tragedy should not happen. that was the statement from kamala harris. we can speak to our correspondent david willis, who has been following the latest events for us. i know you've also been wanting what other politicians have been saying about this tragedy. what have you heard?— about this tragedy. what have ou heard? ~ , , ~ you heard? absolutely. and the last hour or— you heard? absolutely. and the last hour or so, _ you heard? absolutely. and the last hour or so, we've _ you heard? absolutely. and the last hour or so, we've had - last hour or so, we've had statement from a whole range of politicians, taking sharply different lines on this recent tragedy. in response to legislation which has stalled in congress but which proposes a ban on all background checks —— background checks on all firearms tell —— sales. the speaker of the house of representatives, nancy pelosi, said for too long, some in congress have offered hollow

words after these shootings while opposing all efforts to save lives. she goes on to say it's time for all in congress to heed the will of the american people and join in and acting the house products bipartisan common sense life—saving legislation into law. sharp contrast, word from the texas attorney general who was asked on fox news if arming teachers would help alleviate this sort of situation, and he replied, that is certainly something of a possibility. to just put this into context, the us is in the midst of a gun buying frenzy. the last 20 or so years have seen the number of firearms manufactured here nearly triple, and that has sparked very sharp —— despite very sharply in the last three

years in particular. there are now, get this, said to be around 400 million guns in this country, which is more than the number of people. that country, which is more than the number of people.— number of people. that is an astonishing _ number of people. that is an astonishing statistic, - number of people. that is an astonishing statistic, david. l astonishing statistic, david. just listening to you and the two sides of this debate, we've also seen comments from... described the shooting as truly horrific, but also said that gun reforms were not the way to prevent such crimes. i know this gets us into a huge meyer a political debate, but perhaps you could explain the context and why this is such a difficult thing for americans to see eye to eye on.- to see eye to eye on. ditto, the comments _ to see eye to eye on. ditto, the comments of _ to see eye to eye on. ditto, the comments of the - to see eye to eye on. ditto, - the comments of the republican senator for texas, the comments of the republican senatorfor texas, who the comments of the republican senator for texas, who issued the comments of the republican senatorfor texas, who issued a statement referring to this as every parent and teacher's

worst nightmare, and he called this an excruciatingly difficult time for the uvalde community for all in texas. he made no mention of any sort of gun control laws. it is a very controversial subject because the right to bear arms is enshrined and the us constitution, and many feel that one tampers with that at one's peril, if you like. despite that, there have been these calls repeatedly for a tightening of gun control laws. joe biden most recently. there are those who believe without that sort of legislation, these sort of things willjust keep on happening. it is really an intractable problem, it seems, intractable problem, it seems, in this country. we heard from kamala harris, saying very movingly, our hearts break, but our hearts keep getting broken.

indeed. david, listening into what pamela harris was saying as well, she said enough is enough —— kamala harris. she said this does keep happening again and again. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. i want to tell you about another statement we've been hearing as well in washington. we've heard from senator chris murky, a democrat from connecticut —— chris murphy. he made an impassioned appeal concrete action to prevent violence of this sort. 14 kids dead in an elementary school— 14 kids dead in an elementary school in _ 14 kids dead in an elementary school in texas right now. what are we — school in texas right now. what are we doing? what are we

doing? _ are we doing? what are we doing? days after a shooter walked _ doing? days after a shooter walked into a grocery store to lui'i walked into a grocery store to gun down— walked into a grocery store to gun down african—american patrons. _ gun down african—american patrons, we have another sandy hook_ patrons, we have another sandy hook on — patrons, we have another sandy hook on her hands. what are we doing? _ hook on her hands. what are we doing? -- — hook on her hands. what are we doing? -- on— hook on her hands. what are we doing? —— on our hands. there have _ doing? —— on our hands. there have ireen— doing? —— on our hands. there have been more mass shootings in than — have been more mass shootings in than days in the year. our kids— in than days in the year. our kids are _ in than days in the year. our kids are living in fear. every single time they set foot in the classroom, they think they will be — the classroom, they think they will be next. what are we doing? _ will be next. what are we doing? why do you spend all this time _ doing? why do you spend all this time running for the united _ this time running for the united states senate? why do you go— united states senate? why do you go through all the hassle of getting thisjob, of you go through all the hassle of getting this job, of putting yourself— of getting this job, of putting yourself in a position of authority if you're answer —— if your— authority if you're answer —— if your answer is this slaughter increases, we do nothing? what are we doing? why are you _ nothing? what are we doing? why are you here? if not to solve a

problem as— are you here? if not to solve a problem as asked attentional as this -- — problem as asked attentional as this —— existential as this. this— this —— existential as this. this isn't— this —— existential as this. this isn't inevitable. these kids— this isn't inevitable. these kids weren't unlucky. this only happens — kids weren't unlucky. this only happens in this country. nowhere else. nowhere else to little _ nowhere else. nowhere else to little kids go to school thinking that they might be shot— thinking that they might be shot that day. it�*s thinking that they might be shot that day.— thinking that they might be shot that day. it's hard not to be moved _ shot that day. it's hard not to be moved by _ shot that day. it's hard not to be moved by those _ shot that day. it's hard not to be moved by those words, i shot that day. it's hard not to | be moved by those words, but the debate in the united states rages on on this issue. to talk about that further, i'm joined ijy about that further, i'm joined by robin thomas, executive director of the gifford law centre to prevent gun violence. she's in san francisco. thank you so much forjoining us. this awful tragedy that has unfolded today, ijust want this awful tragedy that has unfolded today, i just want to get your thoughts on what people have been telling you and how the community in texas must be under such devastating circumstances right now. this

is being felt coast—to—coast. absolutely, this is the absolute worst nightmare for any parent, for any community. all gun violence is awful and certainly in this country, it is just off the charts these days, but elementary school shootings are something that's just hard for us to fathom. i know you just had senator murphy speaking. i think for many of us following this issue, wondering what it's going to take for our national leaders to actually take action in this country, it doesn't have to be this way. we can prevent these types of shootings and we choose not to, and i think that's what makes so many of us upset and angry and just frustrated that it keeps happening and there's never any change.— keeps happening and there's never any change. robyn, when we talk about _ never any change. robyn, when we talk about situations - never any change. robyn, when

we talk about situations like i we talk about situations like this and the tragedies in the united states, people from all around the world are perplexed. they're wondering why can't these sorts of things we sorted out? why can't americans come to some sort of common understanding about this issue, and for the benefit of our international audience, talk us through why people are so divided on this. i through why people are so divided on this.— through why people are so divided on this. i think what's really important _ divided on this. i think what's really important for _ divided on this. i think what's really important for people i divided on this. i think what'sj really important for people to know is that the american people themselves are actually not divided on this issue. when we do polling in this country, 80-90% of we do polling in this country, 80—90% of americans that support all kinds of common sense gun regulation. this is not something the american people are opposed to, this is something that special interests and lobbying groups like the nra and the gun industry who have politicians who do their bidding in washington, dc have a stranglehold on, and for a long time, the conversation has not been about solutions. it has

not been about what can we do to prevent this. it's been about who holds the reins of power in washington and unfortunately, we have a very divided congress. so they're not willing to do what their constituents want. even gun owners, when they pulled him and ask them, do you agree we should have background checks, 75% of gun owners in america agree with that. yet it's not something we can actually get our congress to do. so, yes, it's an up debate. there's a range of opinions and americans hold gun rights much more dearly than in many other places. however, it is not something that the american people agree with the kind of action that our government has held for so long, and i think that's what's so frustrating to me, that we actually agree on a lot in this country when it comes to gun regulation, and we still can't get the leaders in washington and in many states

to take the action needed. texas holds the unfortunate record for four of the most devastating tragic mass shootings out of the last ten in this country, so it's really a state where you have terribly weak laws, you have the proliferation of far too many guns and this is the consequence. i think it's unfortunately very foreseeable u nfortu nately very foreseea ble when unfortunately very foreseeable when we ask if we should are more people. i know that's what one previous speaker said. you have a state like texas where everyone is armed, there is more gun than there should be, and there are more and more mass shootings there. robyn, as ou sa mass shootings there. robyn, as you say that. _ mass shootings there. robyn, as you say that. it — mass shootings there. robyn, as you say that, it strikes _ mass shootings there. robyn, as you say that, it strikes me i you say that, it strikes me that we did hear from the texas senator ted cruz, who described the uvalde shooting as a truly horrific, but he said that gun reforms were not the way to prevent such crimes. when speaking to reporters, he said that restricting the rights of law—abiding citizens doesn't

work, is not effective, it doesn't prevent crime and i believe we can hear from ted cruz right now and what he said a little earlier. it a little earlier. it is truly horrific. there _ a little earlier. it is truly i horrific. there is nothing more evil than— horrific. there is nothing more evil than violent criminals who target — evil than violent criminals who target children and especially young — target children and especially young children. at this point, we're — young children. at this point, we're incredibly grateful for law enforcement, for the heroes and first— law enforcement, for the heroes and first responders who arrived _ and first responders who arrived on the scenes, but at the same _ arrived on the scenes, but at the same time, the entire state of texas — the same time, the entire state of texas and the country are grieving _ of texas and the country are grieving horrifically at yet another unspeakable crime. what is our another unspeakable crime. what is your message _ another unspeakable crime. what is your message to _ another unspeakable crime. what is your message to parents after— is your message to parents after this— is your message to parents after this is— is your message to parents after this is happened? it. is your message to parents after this is happened? it has happened _ after this is happened? it has happened far _ after this is happened? it has happened far too _ after this is happened? it has happened far too many i after this is happened? it has| happened far too many times. after this is happened? it has l happened far too many times. i have _ happened far too many times. i have treen— happened far too many times. i have been there over and over and over— have been there over and over and overagain. i have been there over and over and over again. i was at the springs _ and over again. i was at the springs churchjust and over again. i was at the springs church just outside of san antonio, and el paso, i was in the _

san antonio, and el paso, i was in the middle of 0desa with the horrific— in the middle of 0desa with the horrific mass murder there, i was — horrific mass murder there, i was in — horrific mass murder there, i was in dallas there, and we are seeing — was in dallas there, and we are seeing way— was in dallas there, and we are seeing way too many of these horrific — seeing way too many of these horrific mass murderers and we need _ horrific mass murderers and we need to— horrific mass murderers and we need to devote far more resources to stopping criminals preventing these kind of absolute acts there will be time — absolute acts there will be time in _ absolute acts there will be time in the hours and days going _ time in the hours and days going forward when we'll learn the background of this mass murderer, what his motivation were~ — murderer, what his motivation were. there's no doubt we didn't— were. there's no doubt we didn't need to do more. we know the trest— didn't need to do more. we know the best experience is armed law enforcement. we don't know the details. there will be a lot of— the details. there will be a lot of time to examine what steps — lot of time to examine what steps would have been taken to enhance — steps would have been taken to enhance the security right now.

all of— enhance the security right now. all of us — enhance the security right now. all of us are grieving horrifically at yet another act of evil — horrifically at yet another act of evil and mass murder. that doesn't work, is not affected. it doesn't prevent crime~ _ affected. it doesn't prevent crime. we know what does prevent _ crime. we know what does prevent crime, which is going after— prevent crime, which is going after felons and fugitives and those — after felons and fugitives and those with serious mental illness. _ those with serious mental illness, arresting them, prosecuting them when they try to illegally buy firearms. weti— to illegally buy firearms. we'll learn the circumstances of this— we'll learn the circumstances of this mass murder, but if you look— of this mass murder, but if you took to— of this mass murder, but if you took to the _ of this mass murder, but if you look to the past, we know what is effective and it is targeting the filaments and fugitives and the bad guys, but as a sure — fugitives and the bad guys, but as a sure as night follows day, you can —

as a sure as night follows day, you can bet there going to be democrat politicians to advance their _ democrat politicians to advance their own — democrat politicians to advance their own agenda rather than to work— their own agenda rather than to work to— their own agenda rather than to work to stop this kind of horrific— work to stop this kind of horrific documents. that was texas senator _ horrific documents. that was texas senator ted _ horrific documents. that was texas senator ted cruz i horrific documents. that was | texas senator ted cruz there. robyn, i don't know if you heard what he was saying, but but he said going after felons and he criticise other politicians, specifically democrats, for trying to advance their agenda during this tragedy. what do you make of those statements?— of those statements? there's a coule of of those statements? there's a couple of things _ of those statements? there's a couple of things to _ of those statements? there's a couple of things to say - of those statements? there's a couple of things to say about i couple of things to say about that. for one thing, california has very strict gun laws and has very strict gun laws and has a much, much lower rate of gun death and gun violence and mass shootings in texas, so the ideas that gun regulations don't enhance safeties is simply a lie. those of you who

live in countries with much stricter gun regulations, you know that that's true. if he's willing to tell lies about whether gun laws were, in fact, the research shows they do. the second thing i would say, if ted cruz and other politicians were actually serious about keeping guns out of the hands of those who should not have them, we should be passing a universal background check law in this country so that every sale and transfer of a gun includes a background check, and if you or someone who should not be getting access to a gun because you're a convicted felon, then you won't pass a background check and yet, ted cruz fights against background check laws. 0n the one hand, he says we should work harder to keep guns out of the wrong hands, and on the other, he made sure there is no mechanism to do that.- mechanism to do that. robyn, 'ust mechanism to do that. robyn, just moving — mechanism to do that. robyn, just moving away _ mechanism to do that. robyn, just moving away from - mechanism to do that. robyn, just moving away from the i just moving away from the specifics of the political debate on this. we're getting some news from our partner in the united states, cbs news, two law enforcement service

sources have confirmed the suspect was armed with a handgun and an ar 15 semi automatic rifle. he also had high—capacity ammunition magazines when he entered the school. how does this happen? in the state like texas, you can get ar 15, you can get long guns, assault style weapons like this without a background check. so, he can get those types of guns and ammunition magazines are not restriction non—restricted in texas. ar 15 �*s are not restricted in texas. these are guns that are not difficult to get in a state like texas. in theory, even for an 18—year—old, is easily available. it's a situation where, if you want to talk about the kinds of policies and solutions that we know can prevent these types of shootings, raising the minimum

age from 18 to 21, having background checks, having extreme risk protective orders which are laws which temporarily restrict someone's gun access when they're in a time of crisis, when they make threats, when they have a mental health crisis, temporarily. when we have evidence that somebody present a risk, a good example would be the parkland shooter, we can remove their guns until they're in a more stable place. there are all these tools available under the law that many states have in place. california has all of those. they prevent those types of shootings. it will prevent all shootings, but it can present some, and isn't that enough? when ted cruz talks about not restricting the right of law—abiding owners, texas has a past laws to allow those convicted of violent misdemeanors and domestic violence and hate crimes from being able to notjust buy guns, but to carry loaded guns in public. that texas's

approach to keeping guns out of dangerous hands. again, it's dangerous hands. again, its complete misinformation for him to suggest what they're doing is actually anything to keep those in texas safe. robyn, 'ust those in texas safe. robyn, just listening _ those in texas safe. robyn, just listening to _ those in texas safe. robyn, just listening to you - those in texas safe. robyn, just listening to you and i just listening to you and obviously so passionate about this issue, i understand your organisation, since the tragedy of sandy hook in 2012, helped pass more than 350 gun safety laws in 45 states. i'm interested to find out what is the resistance that you face when you speak to people on the other side of this debate? i other side of this debate? i think some of the problem is, as we're hearing with ted cruz simply meant information. —— misinformation. the belief we don't have solutions to this problem. i think some of it is understanding the research and statistics, knowing they're solutions and we need to be able to take steps to implement

them. i think the second amendment comes up a lot. what we do have one, it certainly does protect some rights of individuals to hold guns, even the supreme court decision interpreting the second amendment talk about the limits on that right with all rights and responsibility. ithink on that right with all rights and responsibility. i think for many folks, they don't really understand that balance. but you have this right, that doesn't mean there can't be laws that restrict it in favour of public safety. i think sometimes, you get this sort of impediment of the second amendment that events us from having an intelligent conversation. i testified in front of the senate last march, i sat right across from ted cruz in the many. i was waiting for him to ask me questions about solutions to this incredibly important national crisis. he didn't ask me a single question. i sat there for three hours and he didn't asked me one thing. and it really shocked me that these leaders of our country should be trying to solve this

problem, but when they get the chance to talk about