Matthew McConaughey has responded to Tuesday's elementary school shooting in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas.
Yesterday (May 24), CNN reports that an 18-year-old gunman entered the Robb Elementary School in the city of Uvalde, Texas, at approximately 11:32AM.
Officials say the teenager was carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, high-capacity magazines, and a handgun.
After entering several classrooms during the rampage, the gunman killed 19 children and two adults, as well as injured many others.
Now, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has shared a statement on the tragedy, which took place in his hometown.
Taking to social media to share the written statement, the 52-year-old Hollywood star wrote: "As you all are aware there was another mass shooting today, this time in my [hometown] of Uvalde, Texas. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us.
"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 do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state, and neighborhood tomorrow?"
McConaughey added: "We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo. As Americans, Texans, mothers, and fathers, it's time we re-evaluate, and renegotiate our wants from our needs.
"We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children's issue.
"This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured."
"And to those who dropped off their loved ones today not knowing it was goodbye, no words can comprehend or heal your loss, but if prayers can provide comfort, we will keep them coming."
At this time, investigators believe the attacker "did act alone".
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has named the suspect as Salvador Ramos.
The gunman was shot dead by law enforcement officers, officials have said. Two border agents were reportedly shot in an exchange with the gunman, but are now both in a stable condition.
President Joe Biden has responded to the massacre in a national address, saying: "We have to act."
The POTUS stated that "most Americans support commonsense laws", and added that it is "time to turn pain into action".
Biden then addressed "those who obstruct or delay or block the commonsense gun laws", saying that "we need to let you know that we will not forget".
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the victims and anybody else affected by this tragedy.