Despite the rare bipartisan move to pass a historic federal law on gun safety this year, it’s not enough for the families of victims of the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting.
Many traveled back to the nation’s capital Thursday to share their stories while urging people to get out and vote.
It's clear from the jewelry and the tattoos, Amerie Jo Garza’s family wants her to be wherever they go. Her stepfather, Angel Garza, wears a necklace with her picture that says, “You will always be loved and missed and remembered.” He also has a tattoo of her portrait. Amerie Jo’s mother has a tattoo of her handwriting, as well.
“We'd like for people to know about her...," Angel Garza said. "This is the only way we can see her."
The 10-year-old was among the 19 children killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde in May. Two teachers were also gunned down.
“She's so pure, so genuine," Angel Garza said. "She didn't want anybody being bullied. She didn't. She wanted everybody to just be on the same page. And that's kind of what we're doing here. We want everybody to be on the same page as us and accept the fact that, I mean, nobody deserves to go through this."
Families who lost loved ones to gun violence once again rallied in Washington, D.C., calling for a federal ban on semi-automatic weapons.
Brett Cross, whose son, Uziyah Garcia, was killed, told Spectrum News the 10-year-old wanted to be a police officer because he wanted to help people.
“It's not a left or right issue. It's a public health concern," Cross said. "You know, children are dying. And I don't give a damn who anybody thinks that they are. That assault rifle is not worth more than my son's life. It's not worth more than his classmates. It's not worth more than the Parkland kids or the Santa Fe kids or El Paso. It's not. It's not worth it.
“These people pick these weapons because they do the most amount of damage in the shortest amount of time," Cross added. "We've all seen the video. We've all listened to him [the Uvalde shooter] release all those rounds. Two classrooms worth of people. So enough’s enough."
Kimberly Mata-Rubio and Felix Rubio lost their daughter, Lexi, who wanted to be a lawyer. They remember her as being a leader.
“Every time I think about what could have been, I think about her being a survivor,” Kimberly Mata-Rubio said. “We're bringing her here to speak, and she could have been encouraging change on her own, and instead we're here."
They recently met with both of Texas’ Republican U.S. senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, to hear why they will not support federal restrictions on such guns.
“My biggest takeaway from meeting with Ted Cruz is that he has to be voted out," Mata-Rubio said. "And that's just it. He is not receptive to our message. As for Cornyn, he was more receptive, open to hearing about the bill. He isn’t with us right now. But we're motivated, and we hope that we can change him.”
In a statement to Spectrum News, a spokesperson for Cruz said: “Sen. Cruz met with the Mata-Rubios (family) and he saw firsthand the pain and grief that the unspeakable violence at Robb Elementary school caused. After meeting with them, Sen. Cruz went to the Senate floor to fight for his school safety legislation. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats blocked it with no explanation of why they don’t support doubling the number of police officers in schools, hiring 15,000 school-based mental health professionals, and increasing the physical security for children in schools.”
Cornyn's office said they discussed the senior senator’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which, in part, enhanced background checks for young gun buyers, expanded restrictions for convicted domestic abusers and invested in mental health services.
It was the first major piece of gun-safety legislation in almost three decades.
Cruz’s office did not respond to Spectrum News’ request for comment, but he recently discussed on the Senate floor his bill to improve school security and access to student mental health resources.
“This bill would be the most serious, the most significant, the most major investment in school security Congress has ever enacted," Cruz told senators. "This bill would double the number of police officers on campus."
Garza told the crowd near the U.S. Capitol that he never really identified with either party and spoke about how he was not always politically engaged.
He told Spectrum News he is going to vote in November.
“Most people don't care enough to get up and get out there and vote," Garza said. "And I mean, that's just the way it is nowadays. But it'll make a difference. And I stand to make a difference."
Neither of the Texas senators are up for reelection this year, but with the chamber currently split 50-50, there are several close races around the country that’ll determine which party will control the chamber next year.