Texas school shooting: Gun laws slammed as student’s texts for help go viral

The screenshot of a series of text messages from a boy to his mother while he was stuck inside a Texas school amid a shooting incident was posted on Twitter. The child could be seen asking for help. “Mom, I’m scared,” one message read. 

Shared by the CBS reporter Jason Allen, the screenshot has triggered a debate over gun laws in the US state.

The boy, as per the tweet, was inside the Mansfield ISD’s Timberview High School building in Arlington, Texas, when an 18-year-old student opened fire. 

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The accused was released from jail Thursday after posting bond.

“Texts a mother shared with me from her son, during the shooting at a high school today in Mansfield. Captures the moment well,” Allen wrote while sharing the picture. The tweet has been retweeted more than 13 thousand times. 

“Mom, there is a shooting. Mom. Help,” were the three subsequent texts sent by the boy to his mother.

Texas gun laws have been a matter of debate for long. As of September 1, 2021, Texans no longer needed a license to carry in order to carry a handgun. Since being shared online, the post has triggered a plethora of reactions online with many criticising the sale of guns in the US state. 

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“This will keep happening unless people start using their brains and implement gun control laws. Citizens shouldn’t be able to just get a gun, owning a gun should be illegal unless you’re properly trained for using one or your job requires you to carry one,” wrote a user.

“I can’t even begin to imagine the long term effects this will have on the children. We have failed as a society to protect our most vulnerable and precious beings.”

 Two people were shot and two others suffered unspecified injuries. He was jailed on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police have said the shooting happened after a fight, but Simpkins’ family said he had been bullied and robbed twice at school.

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“The decision he made, taking the gun, we’re not justifying that,” said family spokeswoman Carol Harrison Lafayette, who spoke to reporters outside the Simpkins’ home Wednesday night while standing with other relatives. “That was not right. But he was trying to protect himself.”

Police said a 15-year-old student who was shot remained in critical condition while a 25-year-old teacher who was shot was in good condition Thursday.

With inputs from the Associated Press