Watch: A Uvalde family remembers their 10-year-old through the mementos he left behind

The Uvalde shooting: What happened, how to help and resources

• What happened in Uvalde?

  Nineteen children and two teachers died on May 24 after a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Seventeen people were injured. Almost 400 law enforcement officers arrived at the school but waited more than an hour to enter the classroom where the gunman was. Investigations and records revealed unclear communication, poor leadership and officers’ worries about confronting the gunman’s AR-15-style rifle contributed to delays in the law enforcement and medical response.

• How have Texas officials responded?

  Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans have focused on addressing school security and mental health services, mostly ignoring calls from victims’ families for gun control laws to prevent more violence. U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas negotiated a federal bill signed into law in June with some modest gun control measures. In Texas, Abbott and state leaders announced they would dedicate $100 million in state funds to boost school safety and mental health services last June. During the 2023 legislative session, which ends May 29, lawmakers have moved forward two gun-related bills to restrict a person from buying a gun for another person not allowed to have one and to include involuntary hospitalizations of juveniles in federal firearm background checks. They have also sought to fund campus security upgrades and mental health services, add requirements such as silent panic buttons in classrooms and create a new safety and security department within the Texas Education Agency.

• How common are mass shootings in Texas?

  Texas has seen nine mass shootings – defined as a shooting in a public space in which at least 3 or 4 people are killed by a lone gunman – in the past 14 years. During those shootings, 112 people died and 162 were injured. Here’s a timeline with each shooting and the Texas Legislature’s responses.

• How can I help affected families?

  There are still ongoing fundraising efforts to support families in their work advocating for gun violence prevention laws through the group Lives Robbed and to honor victims through several scholarships, including for students Tess Marie Mata, Alithia Haven Ramirez, Makenna Lee Elrod Seiler and Jackie Cazares. A few families of shooting survivors hoping to avoid the city during the anniversary created fundraisers to spend the day at Disney parks.

• Where can Texans get mental health support?

  It is common to feel afraid or distressed in response to a mass violence incident or on the anniversaries of these incidents. Some people may also have physical symptoms, such as aches and changes in appetite, or trouble sleeping, concentrating and returning to normal routines. Most emotional responses and symptoms are temporary, but if they persist for two weeks or longer, seek help. You can call or text 800-985-5990 for crisis counseling and referrals to local resources from SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline. The free, confidential helpline is available 24/7, year-round and offers help in English and Spanish. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can also connect to someone using American Sign Language online. The nonprofit NAMI Texas has affiliates across the state that can also recommend local resources.

• How can I talk to my kids or others about gun violence and tragic news?

  Children can overhear bad news and without context they may misunderstand or overestimate what is wrong. When you talk to kids about these situations, it lets them know you’re available for support, according to the American Psychological Association. The APA recommends planning what you’ll say, finding a quiet moment to talk, first finding out what they know, acknowledging your own feelings, sharing the facts (without graphic details) and reassuring them that they are loved and that you are there to keep them safe and talk.