Matthew McConaughey Urges Americans to Act After Tragic School Shooting in His Texas Hometown

After the horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Matthew McConaughey is calling on all Americans to “do better.”

McConaughey, a Uvalde native, shared a message via social media after the deaths of 19 children, two teachers, and McConaughey. According to NPRThis marks the 27th school shooter this year. “Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us,” the 52-year-old father of three wroteMay 24, 2010. “The true call to action now 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 can we fix the problem? What small sacrifices are we willing to make today in order to keep our nation, state and neighborhood safer?’”

McConaughey stated, “We can’t exhale once more, make excuses, or accept these tragic realities for the status quo.”

The Wolf of WallstreetActor has spoken out before about the lack of gun control laws in our country at a March For Our Lives rally following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland in Florida, which left 17 students and staff dead in 2018. 

In his post, McConaughey went on to write that gun violence is an “epidemic we can control,” regardless of one’s political party, and that it’s time to “do better.” He added, “Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured.”

Below, you can find Matthew McConaughey’s complete statement

“Another mass shooting occurred today, this one in my hometown of Uvalde (Texas). Tragically, we have proven yet again that we are not responsible to the rights we enjoy under our freedoms. 

The true call to action now 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 can we fix 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. 

It’s time to reevaluate and renegotiate what we want from what we need as Americans, Texans and fathers. We need to reorganize and find common ground above the tragic American reality that has become our children’s problem. 

This is an epidemic that we can control. And, regardless of where you stand, we all know we can do more. We must do better. We must take action to ensure that no parent experiences what Uvalde and others have experienced. 

For those who have lost loved ones and didn’t know it was goodbye, there are no words to understand or heal your loss. But if you can pray for comfort, we will keep them going.”