Matthew McConaughey took to Twitter on Tuesday night to handle the mass taking pictures that occurred earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School in the actor’s hometown of Uvalde, Texas.
The tragedy has left not less than 19 children and two adults dead and is taken into account the deadliest faculty taking pictures because the 2012 Sandy Hook bloodbath.
“Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us,” McConaughey wrote, starting a prolonged message. “The true call to action is for every American to take a longer and deeper look in the mirror, and ask ourselves, ‘What is it that we truly value? How do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state and neighborhood tomorrow?’ We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo.”
Later in the message, the actor urged: “This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured.”
McConaughey has a long history of activism and philanthropy in his house state, and final 12 months even contemplated operating for governor.
In the wake of the taking pictures, many of his followers took to social media to strongly urge the actor to make an announcement advocating for gun management, to return to his hometown, and/or to re-consider operating for governor in opposition to Republican incumbent Greg Abbott (the deadline to enter the race, nevertheless, handed in December).
The actor has beforehand described himself as supporting the Second Amendment whereas also advocating common-sense gun control laws. He joined a March For Our Lives protest in Austin in 2018 the place he declared, “We have an epidemic in our country right now that we need to fix.” The actor known as for a ban on assault-style weapons, excessive capability magazines and advocated for better-regulated background checks.
McConaughey has additionally labored for years with at-risk highschool college students by way of his Just Keep Livin’ Foundation. The 14-year-old after-school program has grown to 40 colleges and focuses on children’ health, psychological well being, teamwork and neighborhood service.
– More Articles from Around the Web –
The actor has beforehand sprung into motion underneath tragic circumstances, resembling visiting Sam Houston High School after the dying of a beloved instructor in 2019. “They just got a slap in the face, a reminder that life’s not permanent,” McConaughey mentioned of that prior tragedy. “It’s not constructive to say something isn’t fair and shouldn’t have happened. As hard as it is to lose somebody, it can really galvanize people and make us question what’s important in our lives.
McConaughey has also regularly wrangled benefit events, both annual and impromptu — such as his virtual We’re Texas concert in March 2021, which raised $7.7 million for victims of the devastating winter storm Uri. The actor worked his Rolodex to bring in talent ranging from Post Malone to Kelly Clarkson to Miranda Lambert.
McConaughey opted out of running for office last November despite some hypothetical polls saying he would be a formidable candidate. The actor noted that he would instead “continue to work and invest the bounty I have by supporting entrepreneurs, businesses and foundations that I believe are leaders, establishments that I believe are creating pathways for people to succeed in life, organizations that have a mission to serve and build trust while also generating prosperity. That’s the American dream.”
