Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low'
By: Khaleda Rahman (Newsweek)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
U.S.CrimeShootingMass ShootingGun Violence
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been criticized for his response to a mass shooting that left five people dead in his state.
Authorities appear no closer to catching the suspect, identified as Francisco Oropeza, after more than two days of searching.
Oropeza, 38, is considered armed and dangerous after fleeing the Cleveland, Texas, area on Friday night. Authorities say he entered his neighbors' home and fatally shot five people, including a 9-year-old boy after they had asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard at night because a baby was sleeping.
On Sunday, Abbott announced $50,000 in reward money for information, noting in a press release and tweet that the victims were "illegal immigrants." The release also noted that Oropeza was in the county illegally.
I've announced a $50K reward for info on the criminal who killed 5 illegal immigrants Friday. Also directed #OperationLoneStar to be on the lookout.
I continue working with state & local officials to ensure all available resources are deployed to respond. pic.twitter.com/SpkUgKqKGe
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 30, 2023
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez blasted Abbott's statement, calling it "a new low" and accusing the governor of "continuing to do nothing" to keep Texas safe from gun violence.
Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, where a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers last year, wrote on Twitter: "Greg, how was an undocumented person able to obtain an AR-15 in the first place? I'll tell you why. It's because you and other Republicans have made safe gun laws nonexistent. I challenge you to show some actual political courage and #DOSOMETHING."
Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar wrote: "They were part of a family, @GregAbbott_TX — and one of the victims was a child. What a disgusting lack of compassion and humanity."
They were part of a family, @GregAbbott_TX — and one of the victims was a child.
What a disgusting lack of compassion and humanity. https://t.co/IVEyTKcXFu
— Veronica Escobar (@vgescobar) May 1, 2023
A new low for @GregAbbott_TX, who continues to do nothing to keep #Texas safe from #GunViolence.
Greg, how was an undocumented person able to obtain an AR-15 in the first place? I'll tell you why. It's because you and other Republicans have made safe gun laws nonexistent.
I… https://t.co/Quv17VatBf
— Senator Roland Gutierrez (@RolandForTexas) May 1, 2023
5 innocent lives lost to gun violence. TX @GovAbbott decides to dehumanize & delegitimize the lives of those killed in this horrific attack by calling them "illegal" immigrants. Just horrible.
Thoughts are with the families and the survivors during this difficult time. https://t.co/mjEqlacc3j
— Congressional Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) May 1, 2023
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus also hit out at Abbott.
The caucus tweeted: "5 innocent lives lost to gun violence. TX @GovAbbott decides to dehumanize & delegitimize the lives of those killed in this horrific attack by calling them "illegal" immigrants. Just horrible. Thoughts are with the families and the survivors during this difficult time."
New York Rep. Ritchie Torres wrote that Abbott's "hatred for immigrants and love of AR-15s far outweigh his humanity."
Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, wrote that Abbott is a "racist xenophobe" who "can't bring himself to say a man with easy access to assault rifle [slaughtered] a family and child in his state."
Above, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference on October 17 in Beaumont, Texas. The governor has been criticized for referring to five shooting victims as "illegal immigrants."Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Actor George Takei replied to Abbott's tweet: "This is despicable. I would have thought bringing up the immigration status of the innocent victims of this senseless violence would be beneath even you. But I was wrong."
Meanwhile, Carlos Eduardo Espina, an immigrant rights activist, tweeted a photo of an ID apparently belonging to one of the victims, confirming that she was a permanent resident of the U.S.
"But I guess to Greg Abbott, anyone who is from another country is an 'illegal immigrant.' Shameful," Espina wrote.
I just spoke to the husband of one of the victims. He confirmed to me that his wife was a permanent resident of the US. He even sent me a picture of her ID confirming this.
But I guess to Greg Abbott, anyone who is from another country is an 'ilegal immigrant'. Shameful. https://t.co/O2AphCodlhpic.twitter.com/YjGLdBMtRl
— Carlos Eduardo Espina (@cespina1998) May 1, 2023
However, others praised Abbott. "Other politicians should be so forthright - call a spade a spade, and tenaciously pursue the suspect," one person tweeted, while others suggested closing the border.
Another person wrote: "Pretending nothing is happening at the border and focusing on choice of words is beyond dehumanizing. Thank you for putting up money and trying to find the killer. Your actions are stronger than words."
The FBI in Houston has released more images of Oropeza on Twitter, and said it would be referring to the suspect as Oropesa, not Oropeza, going forward to "better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems."
According to The Associated Press, his family lists their name as Oropeza on a sign outside their yard, as well as in public records.
Here are the newest images of Francisco Oropesa and a prominent tattoo on his left forearm.
Going forward, the subject's last name will be spelled "Oropesa" to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. This remains a fluid investigation. #ClevelandTXShootingpic.twitter.com/ZWUu0FqoMF
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) April 30, 2023
The San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office and the FBI have also chipped in reward money, together offering a total of $80,000 for any information about Oropeza's whereabouts.
More than 250 officers from multiple jurisdictions were searching for Oropeza by Sunday evening.
"FBI Houston and other local, state, & federal agencies will not stop assisting SJSO until he is captured and justice is brought on behalf of the 5 victims," the FBI in Houston posted on Twitter.
Newsweek has contacted Abbott's office and the FBI for further comment via email.
Read more
- Who is Francisco Oropeza? Police hunt Texas mass shooting suspect
- Greg Abbott slammed for tweet after mass shooting: 'No shame'
- Greg Abbott under pressure over plan to pardon 'racist' convicted murderer
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Do you consider illegal aliens as some sort of slur?
Do you think it adding something to the reward offer? Do you think it would have a tendency to increase or decrease sympathy for the victims? If neither, why bother to include it? Will it help us find the killer?
If the shooter was a white nationalist or suspected of being a Trump supporter, it would be mentioned
Would it help us find the killer?
Of course it would, that MAGA hat is recognizable at 100 yards.
We’re talking about murder victims. You can talk apples and oranges with someone else. I’m not playing that.
Was he wrong?
Are they all legal citizens?
No answer which is typical and indicative of a steadily shrinking credibility here.
Seriously?
I didn’t stutter.
You didnt make any sense either.
[deleted]
Lol
Apparently, at least one may have been a legal resident.
To me it’s more or less irrelevant for the victims.
Now the shooter is a different story .....
Agreed.
Sorry John. The truth is the truth. Why do you fear it so?
Did he shoot them because they are illegal immigrants? Did they ask him to stop shooting his Ar-15 in his back yard so that their baby could sleep because they are illegal immigrants?
People in Texas know what a POS Abbott is, and the rest of the nation is learning.
People in Texas know what a POS Abbott is, and the rest of the nation is learning.
And they will keep electing him because of that whole birds of a feather thing.
Maybe he was less concerned about the lives of illegals than American citizens. Who knows? Why supress the facts?
As I said, birds of a feather [removed]
It may turn out that someone who is killed in a car accident is a white supremacist. Should that be included in a news story about the accident?
Well, you're not in Texas and with NT's best memories, I don't think the people of Texas give a shyte of what your opinion on anything dealing with Texas is.
Of course.
Are you saying that a white supremacist is the opposite of an illegal alien?
Well, I have spent a couple months in Texas over the last two years, and know people in Texas, and they think Abbott is a bum.
[deleted]
A completely ridiculous sweeping generalization.
It should be if he was at fault and the victim is of color.
I dont think it makes me an expert. Since when does anyone have to be an expert on anything to comment on an opinion forum?
I do know I am more well equipped for this sort of stuff than most people are.
Now, will you stop pestering me?
Comment on the seeded articles, not me.
Did the illegal immigrants shot ask for it on the basis of their immigration status?
Certainly not.
Not to John - it's all personal.
If the criminal and victims weren't in the country illegally would the murders have happened?
Amazing how that should work, eh? This a case of pot calling kettle black such as not discussing topic and blaming everyone else when offended?
FWIW, under Fed law, "Illegal Aliens" are folks in the U.S. without authorization. They are NOT illegal immigrants or "undocumented migrants" and I believe one of the points of the thread was for informational purposes only when all victims, until proven otherwise, were "Illegal Aliens" which opens a whole new door of discussion.
So, ask yourself, if those six folks, living next door to each other, were/are Illegal Aliens, how 'bout the rest of the neighborhood? Is it an Illegal Alien subdivision/section of Chicago since they are, after all, a sanctuary city?
The pure facts to the thread are that a person, slightly deranged (if he is firing a rifle in his backyard at night in a residential, no shooting, neighborhood), got pizzed for being asked to quit so others in the neighborhood can get their private rest - at night, in their own homes. He cranks up his weapon, goes next door, and executes all five family members 'cause they had the audacity to ask him to be quiet.
He didn't shoot them 'cause they were Illegal Aliens. He didn't shoot them 'cause he is an Illegal Alien. He shot them 'cause they interrupted his pleasure of firing his rifle in his backyard - not because he is an Illegal Alien.
Next question that no one has broached - "Why" was he firing his rifle in his backyard? Target practice? Getting ready to take down a library/high school/police station/shopping mall/church? What was his motive/rationale for firing his rifle, at night, in his backyard?
Drunk ..... impulse control issues .... no respect for the law ...... five deportations helped prove that out if they were paying attention.
This happened in Texas. Last time I checked Chicago wasn't in the state of Texas
And that's one of the many reasons I like you - keeping me straight
Thanks Trout
But, the last three paragraphs are still viable, regardless of the city - true?
Why? Why? Why?
Defiantly, if it went down as initially reported.
absolutely! Everything in your last paragraphs are true. He was drunk, he was a jerk, and he didn't have any regard for anyone other than himself.
I hope when they catch him and convict him they give him the death penalty.
The killer was from Mexico and the victims were from Venezuela!
Did you miss that? Did every damn leftist miss that?
If they weren't here illegally it would have not fucking happened. Get that through your thick unresponsive skulls!
The gun didn't kill them! Brandon's failure to enforce our borders and immigration laws did!
None of them should have been in this country, period!
How do you reach this conclusion? Did the killer check their paperwork before he shot them? Are only illegal aliens killed in Texas?
No, your logic (
) is flawed. Their illegal status is not relevant. If they were here legally, they would still have been killed here. There is evidence that at least one of the victims may have been here legally, but it didn’t stop her from being killed. Furthermore, we have no evidence that any of them were here illegally beyond the governor’s say-so, which may unreliable.
There’s no evidence that the killer shot them because of their status. It seems far more likely that he would have shot anyone who complained to him at that moment.
I won’t respond to talk of the killer because this particular story is not about that. It’s about the victims and the governor’s characterization of them. You continue to try to argue a straw man.
That is true. We finally managed to trim the BS from your statements and got down to something that is logically true. Is it important? No. But it’s still true. I’ll let you have a cookie.
Yeah well, no one’s been trying to spin that point, so . . . nothing to worry about.
It's actually not.
The situation that allowed this crime to occur was brought about by previous violations of immigration laws.
Had those immigration laws been enforced, the family would probably not have been there and the shooter would definitely not have been there.
So this maniac wouldn't have shot a US citizen who complained to him?
So this maniac wouldn't have shot a US citizen who complained to him?
Do you know how question marks work? I asked you a question. I didn’t speculate on anything. Are you going to answer the question?
Ex-ACTLY! It makes no difference. That’s why there’s no good reason to make a point out of identifying his victims as illegal immigrants!
Do you mean the question you asked me only 15 minutes previous? Sorry, but the grown ups sometimes have other things to do and they can’t always answer internet questions right away. I did answer it, though, at 3.1.43.
It might. It may cause some people to think they deserved it somehow just for being here illegally - like they did it to themselves. We have seen that right here today.
It might also cause some people who could help to decide not to because it’s not their problem.
It also unnecessarily demonizes murder victims. Usually, because we are compassionate human beings who want to show we don’t like murders, we will describe the victims in ways other than what Governor Abbott chose. For example, instead of saying,
He could have said,
Or
Don’t you think that might give people a different feeling about the situation? Maybe a better one? Maybe a feeling that has them on the lookout for a murderer rather than blowing it off?
He wouldn't have been in the US, so probably not.
I think those folks are long past worrying about what people think. And it's not up to you or anyone else to try and control that anyway.
Now we get to it. This is the only valid point you have to stand on.
Reinforcing the point, he was allegedly deported FIVE times.
Five times he should not have been back in the US.
Pretty tough to argue the logic of that but I suppose argue they still will.
Truthy alternate headline: November 22, 1963 - Dallas: Man who cheated on his wife shot in the head
Many things can be true, but are they relevant? Is it fair and appropriate to bring them up in every circumstance?
good point
That took me a minute...but clever
John, this will be off topic and I apologize for it but I have my reasons for stating this in your seed.
How does an illegal immigrant get an AR-47? Doesn't he have to show ID for that? And what does his being an illegal immigrant have to do with him shooting his neighbors? Don;t mass shootings happen nearly every day by legal citizens?
Good question.
Folks who are in the US illegally can not legally own firearms.
ATF form 4473, question 21m.
I know but look closer to home. How many gun homicides in the US do you think are perpetrated by legal gun owners?
What are the chances he illegally transported the weapon across our wide open border when he arrived illegally back in the US?
Hundreds of thousands of guns are trafficked from the US to Mexico every year. How shocking would it be when some make it back into the US? It wouldn't be the first time for sure.
AR-15. oops
Assuming he buys it legally, yes. But I'm not sure that's a valid assumption, based on his previous disregard for the law. I'm not sure we even know it was his gun. He may have stolen it, borrowed it, had a friend buy it for him or used a fake ID.
It doesn't and they do.
Thank-you.
Some are asking what the problem is, and some are even praising the governor for his characterization of the victims as “illegal immigrants.” As to the term itself, it’s not one I use, but not for the reason you probably think. I’m still in the “illegal alien” camp. So “illegal” does not trigger me. Here’s why it’s a problem, though:
First, it may not even be true:
That makes it seem like an assumption that is lazy, at best - racist at worst.
Second, it’s neither presented nor received as a positive characterization like “family” or “child” - characterizations that are true - that would cause people to sympathize with the victim and want to find the killer.
Third, there’s no reason this killer would only target illegal aliens. A person like this is a threat to everyone. Labeling the victims in this way makes it seem like it’s not the problem of citizens.
Fourth, what is the point in making any negative characterization at all? When someone else is killed, do we go out of our way to list everything about them that we might not like? Do we offer a reward and characterize it as being for the criminal who killed a man who drank too much? The wife who can’t cook? The student who got bad grades? The guy who didn’t pay his taxes on time?
No, we don’t do any of that. The victims are people. They are a family. A child was killed. That’s the kind of thing we need to know, and their basic human dignity demands that nothing worse need be said. It would be different if they brought it on themselves, somehow, like say it was a gang shooting and they were in the gang. Or they were shot by a good person defending himself from attack. Culpability changes our calculus, but these were apparently innocent victims and should be respected as such.
I saw the press conference and indeed the Sheriff did become very emotional and rightly so. An 8 year old boy a 25 year old mother plus three others were shot down and some are concerned about their immigration status. JHC, people called 911 five times to report this guy and were told the police were on the way, sadly it was too late when they got there.
I don't know how many of you have seen what a bullet does to the human body and especially to a young child. I hope you never have to.
I look forward to your outrage every time the victim of a crime is mentioned as black when there is no evidence racism had anything to do with the crime.
I sure remember how mad you got when Michael Brown was described as black when he was shot by the white officer.