UVALDE, Texas — Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement of support on Friday for the Uvalde community exactly two years after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary.

What You Need To Know

  • Harris’ comments came a day after President Joe Biden sent a letter to the community expressing his condolences and discussing his efforts to end “the epidemic of gun violence”

  • Harris said the families of the victims of those killed in the Uvalde mass shooting helped the administration to pass historic gun safety legislation

  • The vice president also touted other actions the Biden administration has taken to change gun laws across the country

“Two years ago, 19 beautiful children and two selfless teachers were killed in their classrooms during a senseless mass shooting carried out with a weapon of war,” Harris wrote. “They should still be with us – playing sports, creating art, dancing, laughing, learning, teaching, and making new memories with their families and friends. Today, we are remembering their stories, standing with their loved ones, and thinking of their community.”

Harris’ comments came a day after President Joe Biden sent a letter to the community expressing his condolences and discussing his efforts to end “the epidemic of gun violence.”

In her statement, Harris also touched on the Biden administration’s work to pass gun safety legislation. The vice president specifically mentioned the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress passed and Biden signed into law in 2022, calling it “the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years.”

Harris said the families of the victims of those killed in the Uvalde mass shooting helped the administration to pass this historic gun safety legislation.

“In the months and years since these 21 Americans lost their lives and 17 others were injured, the families in Uvalde have powerfully channeled their anguish into advocacy – demanding action to change the unacceptable fact that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in our nation,” Harris said. 

Prior to 2020, the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. was car crashes, but since then, firearms have been the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 19. 

Harris also touted other changes the administration has attempted to enact to gun laws like closing the gun show loophole, which was put on pause earlier this month by a judge following multiple lawsuits from Republican-led states, including Texas. 

Other actions Harris mentioned in her statement were investing in student mental health, launching the first-ever “red flag” law resource center and creating the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. 

“While we have made necessary progress together, there is more work to be done to ensure that every person in our nation has the freedom to live safe from the horror of gun violence,” said Harris. “Congress and state legislators throughout America must have the courage to act by banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, passing red flag laws, and making background checks universal. These commonsense solutions will save lives and ensure that fewer children, families, and communities experience the unimaginable trauma and pain that Uvalde has suffered during these last two years.”

Earlier this week, the families of the victims announced a lawsuit against 92 state police officers who were a part of the law enforcement response to the shooting, which has been criticized by state and federal authorities for “cascading failures.” This new suit joins many others filed in the shooting's aftermath.

The families also announced Wednesday that they reached a $2 million settlement with the city, which agreed to a new standard and training for Uvalde police officers and established May 24 as an annual day of remembrance and the creation of a permanent memorial in the city.