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Transcript/ScriptWashington Week Ahead
HEADLINE: Texas School Shooting Deaths Spur Talk of New Gun Restrictions TEASER: A bipartisan group of U.S. senators discuss gun law changes in the wake of the deaths of 19 children and two teachers
PUBLISHED AT: 05/29/2022 at 7:38 pm
BYLINE: Michelle Quinn
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER: Scott Stearns, Mike O’Sullivan, Celia Mendoza
PRODUCER: Barry Unger
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, MPage
VIDEO SOURCE (S): ABC THIS WEEK,
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:49
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: Video editor found Biden, Trump SOTs on AP, removed YouTube courtesies))
((INTRO))
[[The deaths of 19 children and two teachers from gunshot wounds in the past week after an 18-year-old gunman entered a school has spurred discussions about gun reform in the United States. Michelle Quinn reports.]]
((NARRATOR)) ((BROLL: Scenes from Texas))
On Sunday, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited a makeshift memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. They stopped in front of the photos of 19 children and two teachers who died after an 18-year-old armed with two semi-automatic guns opened fire in their classroom.
((NARRATOR)) ((BROLL: Scenes from Texas))
As the country grieves the loss of these lives, there continues to be questions about what law enforcement did — or should have done — when the gunman was in the classroom. And the deaths are spurring again calls by some for stricter gun laws.
On Saturday, Biden spoke at a graduation about the shooting and also the 10 deaths in New York earlier this month in a racially motivated mass shooting in a grocery store.
((President Joe Biden)) ((Courtesy: AP))
((17:40))
“We cannot outlaw tragedy, I know. But we can make America safer. We can finally do what we have to do to protect the lives of the people and of our children.”
((NARRATOR)) ((BROLL: Texas memorial and then to NRA meeting))
Biden and others who support more restrictions of guns point to the deaths in Texas as a result of lax gun laws. Advocates for gun rights say focusing on guns is a side issue when it would be more productive to make schools more secure. Former President Donald Trump spoke at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting Friday in Houston, Texas.
((Donald Trump, Former US President)) ((Courtesy: AP))
((2:05:16))
“The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens who know how to use their weapon and can protect people. The existence of evil is one of the best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens.”
((NARRATOR)) ((BROLL: Congress, Washington shots))
In the wake of the Texas school shooting, a group of bipartisan U.S. senators are meeting to discuss what new gun restrictions might be possible.
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, says he would like to see big changes in gun laws, but for now, is talking to Republicans about more modest changes, such as expanding background checks for gun purchases.
((Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat)) ((mandatory cg ABC “This Week”))
((3:19))
“A package that really, in the end, could have a significant downward pressure on gun violence in this country and break the logjam. Maybe that's the most important thing we could do is just show that progress is possible and that the sky doesn't fall for Republicans if they support some of these commonsense measures.”
((NARRATOR)) ((BROLL: Scenes from Texas))
As the country wrestles with the aftermath of another horrific mass shooting targeting young innocent lives, it is looking for answers to make sure such a tragedy doesn’t happen again.
((Michelle Quinn, VOA NEWS))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 29, 2022 20:36 EDT
Byline((Michelle Quinn, VOA NEWS))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English