A number of voices shouted, "Do something!" as they walked out of the Catholic church where Joe Biden and Jill Biden had just celebrated Mass. "We will do it. The president replied, "We will," climbing onto the running board of the car and turning his attention to those calling to him. They had begun their visit at Robb Elementary School. This school was the scene of one of America's worst school massacres.
On Tuesday, Salvador Ramos, 18, shot and killed nineteen children as well as two teachers. Joe and Jill Biden placed a bouquet of flowers in front of crosses with the names of the victims. They also added a stuffed animal or two to the mix. After removing their dark glasses, the couple looked at a series of large photos that showed the faces of the children who were 9 to 11.
After spending nearly three hours with victims' families, the Bidens spent almost three hours away from cameras and out of sight. Uvalde's photos bore a stark resemblance with the US president's visit to Buffalo in the northeast corner of the country, where a racist massacre took place, a few days earlier. Joe Biden found himself in deep mourning with an intimate dimension.
On Tuesday, he described how losing a child was like having a piece your soul taken out of you. He had lost a daughter in a car accident, and another son to cancer as an adult. Joe Biden may have been able to comfort some families during his lengthy interview. The 79-year old Democrat cannot do more in a country with more guns than people.
Ricardo Garcia (47), was an employee at Uvalde hospital on the day that the tragedy occurred. "I have witnessed terrible things. Little dead children. He says, "I can't get my head out of my mind the screaming of mothers being told the terrible news." "I'm glad that (the president), is here. We are very honored. We must stop selling weapons. Texas is a state where you cannot buy tobacco until you are 18, but you can own guns. He adds that this is not the norm. Joe Biden wants to end this sinister American routine, which is disrupted at regular intervals with shootings that don't result in significant reforms.
When interviewed by CNN on Sunday, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said that he sensed a "different mindset". To convince some Republicans, the Democrats will need to get the qualified majority in Senate and to at least pass legislation on semi-automatic weapons. It will be difficult. The task will be difficult. On Friday, the conservative camp's heavyweights, including Donald Trump, marched to NRA's convention to support the leader of the organization.
