A viral video shows an activist chastising Texas senator Ted Cruz about his gun views in the aftermath of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, which killed 19 children and two adults. 

The altercation, which was captured on video on Friday, took place just hours after the lawmaker gave a speech at a National Rifle Association convention in Houston.

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Cruz attacked Democrats for advocating for stronger gun controls during his address at the NRA conference. Instead, he advocated for stronger school security, including single-door entrances and armed guards to prevent school shootings.

The man in the viral video yelled at the Texas Sen. and said “why does this keep happening?” and accused Cruz of “taking blood money.”

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He continued -“when 19 children died, that is on your hands …Ted Cruz that is on your hands.”

Benjamin Hernandez, a member of the liberal group Indivisible Houston, was identified as the activist.

In the footage, Hernandez can be seen ranting as security forced him out of the restaurant.

According to footage, Hernandez approached Cruz peacefully and wanted a photograph, which Cruz granted.

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However, following the flash, Hernandez confronts Cruz and asks why he refuses to support additional background checks for gun buyers.

Referring to the NRA speech, Cruz told Hernandez.

“The background checks wouldn’t have stopped the shooter. Do you know what would have? The bill I introduced.“

Hernandez quickly cuts off Cruz, who becomes visibly more agitated and says-

“We can make it harder for people to get guns in this country, sir, you know that, but you stand here, you stand at the NRA convention, it is harder when there are more guns to stop gun violence.”

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Cruz replied – You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

As the verbal altercation worsened, Cruz’s security detail intervened and ordered Hernandez to “back up” before being thrown out. 

Later on Twitter, Hernandez justified his conduct.

“I wasn’t going to let that fucker walk into the restaurant where I was having dinner and not have him hear me. They can do something, but they just don’t want to. So let’s let them have it,” he wrote.

“Challenge them every single time. Don’t stop until they do something,” he said in a follow-up tweet.