WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin released the following statement upon confirmation that 19 students and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, were murdered today by a gunman. 

“More than 20 people are dead, 19 of them children, at their elementary school. Children. I feel sick that this keeps happening. My heart goes out to all of the parents who sent their sons and daughters off to school this morning, a supposed safe space, never to see them again. 

“How many children have to die before enough is enough? My thoughts are with the victims and their families, but words and prayers are insufficient. Doing nothing about the epidemic of guns across this country is killing our children. We must work together to translate our grief into collective action. Congress and lawmakers at every level of government must make changes to ensure our neighborhoods are safer for every American, regardless of who they are or where they live. We must break through the gridlock and finally do something that will save lives.”