Texas Governor Gregg Abbott came in for criticism when he referred to the five people murdered in a senseless act of gun violence as “illegal immigrants.” A man asked his neighbor to stop firing his AR-15 at 11:30 pm because the baby was trying to sleep. The man with the gun entered the home of the complainer and killed five people with a bullet to the head, including an 8-year-old.
The criticism of Abbott’s comment was surprising since it is a well-established fact that Governor Abbott has neither a heart nor a soul. Nor is he a Christian who follows the teachings of Jesus.
The Houston Chronicle reported:
Gov. Greg Abbott has sparked national outrage after referring to the five people killed in the Cleveland mass shooting as “illegal immigrants” in a tweet Sunday afternoon.
The five victims of Friday’s mass shooting all hailed from Honduras and were members of the same extended family: Sonia Guzman, her 9-year-old son Daniel Guzman, Diana Alvarado, Jose Casarez and Julisa Rivera.
Casarez and Rivera leave behind two children — a 6-year-old and a 9-month-old.
Law enforcement officials have described all five victims as being from Honduras, but have not confirmed their immigration status. Sonia Argentina Guzman, one of the deceased, is listed as owning the home where the shooting took place in San Jacinto County records.
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.
Celebrity chef José Andrés responded to Abbott in a tweet: “nobody is illegal in heaven.”
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie was killed in Florida’s Parkland high school mass shooting in 2018, tweeted at Abbott: “On behalf of those like my daughter who are victims of gun violence, F*** YOU!!!”
MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough criticized Abbott on his show Monday morning.
“Maybe he’s part of this Christian nationalist movement, but what would Jesus do? You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to know: not that. What a dreadful, shameful thing,” Scarborough said.
Responding to Abbott’s tweet, an immigrant rights activist shared on Twitter a photo of Diana Alvarado’s ID card identifying her as a permanent resident of the United States. Carlos Eduardo Espina said the photo was sent to him by Alvarado’s husband.
At a ceremony for fallen officers in Austin Sunday, Abbott said the suspected shooter had been deported four times and had re-entered the United States illegally.
In stark contrast to Abbott, Beto O’Rourke reacted to the shooting with a tweet Saturday morning calling for a ban on AR-15 rifles like the one used in the Cleveland mass shooting.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Odd that he used that description for the victims but not the murderer.
Diane Closely related is a BookTV panel discussion (last weekend at the Los Angeles Book Festival) on gun violence. This timely discussion gives us a fascinating take on the history of motivations behind the gun industry (an insider’s view) and their relationship with Congress, and much more. CBK
https://www.c-span.org/video/?527353-14/gun-violence-america
Still, hardcore Traitor Trump worshiping/loving MAGA-RINOs, that think like Marjorie Taylor Greene, will nod and say the victims got what they deserved.
Between Traitor Trump, the House GOP Freedom Caucus, Dead-on-Arrival DeSantis, and Abusive Abbott types, I’m thinking someone, including the names in my comment, is seriously attempting to drum up a violent Civil War.
Lloyd writes: “I’m thinking someone, including the names in my comment, is seriously attempting to drum up a violent Civil War.”
I fear, but have often thought that Trump and his allies know (with this election go-around if not the last one) that violent overthrow is the only way they can “win.” Where is Flynn, btw? CBK
I can still hear the rhetorical question at the Army-McCarthy hearings: “Have you no sense of decency?”
2023, a literal answer: not a bit. We have no sense of decency.
The problem is that too many Texans don’t give a damn.
Abbott suffers from “foot in mouth” disease. He cannot get past his inherent bias even in the face of unspeakable tragedy. Texans missed a chance for sound leadership when they voted to put the same “good ‘ole boys” back in office.
Even Uvalde voted for Abbott
Why should Abbott or anyone else give a flip that the victims are or are not illegal immigrants? What real difference does it make? What proof did Abbott spout of his mouth that this victims are illegal immigrants? None!!!!
I guess since Abbott believe the victims are illegal immigrants then it is okay that they died the way they did. He is more interested in catching the shooter because he IS illegal and not because the shooter killed five people.
For Abbot this is nothing more than an opportunity to win votes for his next election.
moeone2014 writes: “Why should Abbott or anyone else give a flip that the victims are or are not illegal immigrants? What real difference does it make.”
According to some of the people who have studied this (from the inside and out), the gun people at the National Rifle Association, etc., back in Reagan-time, sort of stumbled into the fact that fearful people bought guns; and if people were fearful (for any reason) they would want more guns for protection, and so BUY them. (See C-SPAN/BookTV, panel discussion on guns from last weekend.)
Eary on the fear was of crime, but now for several “reasons,” the fear has ballooned into a resurgence of all sorts of racism (racism is always a part of it); and so, fear of being “taken over by Jews” etc., or by whatever “kinds of people” you are afraid of, including immigrants.
I used to think the NRA probably cringed with each new mass shooting; but with the above logic, I wonder if they are actually joyful about them or even actively inspiring them: Each one stimulates the gun market because people are afraid NOT to have one.
Of course, with human motivations, rarely ONE kind of motivation is present, not the least of which, in this case, is the male gun-toting image of power. But where Abbot is concerned, my money is on . . . (ahem) money and other kinds of illegitimate power, e.g., political.
Considering the gun issue, or the U.S. Supreme Court:
Money is Power. Power Corrupts. Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
CBK
A great podcast from a few years back was the second season of “Gangster Capitalism” that dealt with the NRA. The leaders there knew exactly what they were doing and actually discovered they could make a ton of money perpetuating the second amendment grift with the gun manufacturers. I Think Abbot, Desantis et. al have shown exactly what they are about. Policies throughout their political careers have not changed much. They are simply cruel and vile. You’re right, they don’t care about their constituents. I have come to the conclusion, however, that their positions are not an act. They espouse bigotry and disdain too consistently for us to believe otherwise.
CBK, every mass murder is followed by a surge in gun sales.
Diane For me, it is hard to grasp, even now, after we have seen so much, just how despicable some of us can be. CBK
That’s exactly right. Because 4 of the 5 were “illegals,” their lives don’t matter.
Describing the murder victims as illegal immigrants is factually accurate: they are people who entered the U.S. without legal authorization to do so. Various statutes use the term “illegal aliens.” But describing their legal status was not relevant to the crime they suffered, and under the circumstances it was very insensitive for the Governor to make the statement he did. However, it is relevant that the killer was here illegally and had been deported five times; he was again in the U.S. illegally because of lax border security, a deliberate policy of the Biden administration.
undocumented immigrants is the proper term. “Illegal is racist, improper, and technically incorrect. Here, from the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project, the reasons why the term “illegal” is improper:
The legal grounds include
–it is legally misleading because it connotes criminality, while presence in the U.S. without proper documents is a civil offense, not a criminal one;
–it is legally inaccurate because it is akin to calling a criminal defendant “guilty” before a verdict is rendered;
–it is legally imprecise because it implies finality even though immigration status is fluid and, depending on individual circumstances, can be adjusted;
–it is technically inaccurate because it labels the individual as opposed to the actions the person has taken.
The moral grounds include
–the term scapegoats individual immigrants for problems that are largely systemic;
–the term divides and dehumanizes communities and is used to discriminate against people of color;
–the term creates an environment of hate by exploiting racial fear;
–the term affects attitudes toward immigrants and non-immigrants alike, most often toward people of African, Asian, Central American and Mexican descent;
–the term impacts the way young people feel about themselves and their place in the world;
–the term increases the American public’s tolerance for daily violations of human rights;
–the term is a code word for racial and ethnic hatred;
–the term is outdated, offensive, and implicitly carries with it negative connotations.
But I don’t expect a knuckle-dragger like A-butt to grok any of this.
Actually, Biden, like Obama, is quietly trying to turn away and deport immigrants on a scale equal to that of Tr*mp and greater than that of Bush. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/01/john-oliver-biden-immigration
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/16/title-42-immigration-judge-orders-biden-administration-trump-rule
Yes, but the myth that Biden is somehow “soft on immigration” is pushed constantly on right-wing media, with no facts to support it. Why? Because the facts do not support it.
Biden doesn’t boast that his immigration policy is the same as Trump’s. But liars gonna lie.
Describing these people as illegal immigrants is like saying: it’s ok. You don’t have to worry about this one. They are of a lesser status.
RT, exactly
Chelsea,
I agree. It was appropriate to identify the suspect as illegal. It was grossly insensitive to say the same about the victims; their immigration status was irrelevant to their terrible deaths.
Abbott, like several other high-profile racists in the Repugnican Party, is simply disgusting, nauseating, odious, repulsive, vile. What does it say of a place that a man like this (I use the term “man” loosely) can win its governorship, more than once?
Appropriately sharp, Diane: “The criticism of Abbott’s comment was surprising since it is a well-established fact that Governor Abbott has neither a heart nor a soul.” I had to laugh. I had to cry.
Don’t you love these “Christians” who violate everything that Jesus taught about love, kindness and charity?
I’m with you, LCT. This was perfectly said.
Hey, Republicans, get with the seismic cultural changes occurring. Evolve. You will be so happy that you did.
Wishful thinking. The moderate Republicans have disappeared or are in hiding.
And have circled the wagons around rural America…
There is a Republican hate machine that exists to be fed. And a sizeable portion of our citizenry who love to wallow in the product that machine excretes.
God help us all.
And, in education news from Tennessee, privatization advocate Penny Schwinn has just been replaced by a person from Jen Bush’s Excel organization.
For anyone who thinks this comment is inappropriate for comments on Abbot’s utterances, let me point out that even in my County, which is changing from rural to suburban, there is a new Christian school bearing the name of a former chair of the school board. From Main Street to Pennsylvania Ave, Republicans are dedicated to the idea of ruling so that their constituents can avoid those they fear.
Shame on them
There is a rumor-may be false-that Schwinn is going to Texas to replace Morath. Recycling
On a different note, will the Greying Old Party nominate the Loser for President, again, even after he is convicted of rape?
And if so, can we then run news stories that start with lines like, “Appearing in Iowa today in advance of the upcoming caucases, rapist Donald Trump . . .”? Or can broadcast stations run leads like this: “Stay tuned next for an exclusive interview with rapist and presidential candidate for 2024, Donald J. Trump”?
I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t lose the rape case because the jury is hearing only from the victim, and Trump refuses to appear. Apparently other women will testify and the Access Hollywood tape will be shown.
Prediction: the Trump base won’t care.
Trump might be unable to attend the GOP convention due to imprisonment.
That’s OK, CNN will build an in-house studio for him, complete with chose audience. The last time I watched Colbert was the episode when he sent off Chris Licht with smarmy best wishes as he went to CNN. Note how none of the remaining staff are afraid to state their opinions or call out something that is obviously false. If Colbert repents, I’ll consider going back. But not even considering until then.
They were illegal immigrants.
I support public schools, I support a fair USA that gives chances to its citizens.
But can’t you see that if you support open borders, unlimited immigration, and bonded visa labor, this inherently destroys wages (particularly for blacks, but also for everyone) for US citizens?
Its ironic that you lead the charge for public schools (and I support that cause) but by supporting illegal immigrants, and bonded visa slaves, you are ensuring that there will never be decent jobs for the students that go to those schools?
Harry, I don’t support open borders. I have never supported open borders. I do believe in gun control. Also respect for those brutally murdered regardless of their legal status.
This from the ALCU:”A U.S. Department of Labor study prepared by the Bush Administration noted that the perception that immigrants take jobs away from American workers is “the most persistent fallacy about immigration in popular thought” because it is based on the mistaken assumption that there is only a fixed number of jobs in the economy.”
You do realize that your position is one of the arguments used by Southern Plantation owners to convince poor whites in the South to fight in the civil war and later promote Jim Crow…