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More than a year and a half after the Texas elementary school massacre that left 21 dead, the U.S. Department of Justice is issuing a damning report to law enforcement authorities. In a final report of more than 600 pages, the ministry detailed extensive failures – “in leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy and training”.
Some officers were not trained at all to respond to an active shooter, US Attorney General Merrick Garland, 71, explained at a news conference in the small town of Uvalde on Thursday. An 18-year-old opened fire there on May 24, 2022, killing 19 children and two teachers. After about 75 minutes, police officers approached the gunman and shot him.
“Lives could have been saved if generally accepted practices had been followed,” Garland said. Victims and survivors deserved better. For example, people with gunshot wounds were put on buses without first medical care. “Some families were told that their relatives had survived, when that was not the case.”
“Terrible reality”
Shortly after the massacre, US President Joe Biden (81) campaigned to stand up to the gun lobby. Conservative voices in Texas, on the other hand, again brought up arming teachers to increase school security.
In the US, disasters and deadly shootings are unfortunately part of everyday life. Firearms are easily available and widely distributed. According to CNN, there have been five cases in the US since the beginning of the year that have injured or killed more than four people. Many schools and universities have been conducting so-called active shooter drills for years to prepare for a situation like the one in Uvalde.
The final report includes 273 recommendations for law enforcement agencies across the country, the U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday. “Our children should not grow up in a country where an 18-year-old has access to a weapon that belongs on the battlefield and not in the classroom,” Garland said. “But this is a terrible reality we face. And so it is a reality that every law enforcement agency in every community must be prepared.” (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
