Democrats clip Paxton's Uvalde remarks

James Talarico's campaign and the Democratic National Committee posted six-second clips of Ken Paxton's 2022 radio comments about the Uvalde shooting, omitting fuller context.

The clipped quote about God's plan

Talarico's posts said Paxton claimed the shooting was part of a plan by God. The Democrats' Instagram post highlighted Paxton saying: Look, there's always a plan. I believe God always has a plan.

“Look, there's always a plan. I believe God always has a plan.”

The shooting and its toll

On May twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-two, an eighteen-year-old gunman killed nineteen children aged nine to eleven and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Paxton's full response to Graham

Paxton, Texas attorney general since twenty fifteen, was interviewed by radio host and pastor Trey Graham on May twenty-ninth. Graham asked him to speak comfort to grieving families.

What Paxton actually said

Paxton said: Life is short, no matter what it is, and certainly we're not going to make sense of a young child being shot and killed way before their life expectancy.

“Life is short, no matter what it is, and certainly we're not going to make sense of a young child being shot and killed way before their life expectancy.”

Paxton urged faith and purpose

Paxton told families: I would just have to encourage them to hold on to their faith and to hold on to their belief that there really is purpose in what God does.

“I would just have to encourage them to hold on to their faith and to hold on to their belief that there really is purpose in what God does.”

Critics called his response inadequate

The Houston Chronicle editorial board wrote that Paxton had demurred on offering words of comfort, opting for cold resignation. Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty called it a shameful cop-out.

Paxton opposed stricter gun laws

In the same interview, Paxton said more gun laws would not have stopped the shooter. He proposed hiring police at schools and training others to respond before law enforcement arrived.

Campaigns decline to address context

When asked about the clipped posts, Talarico's campaign pointed to critical twenty twenty-two articles but did not respond whether voters might view Paxton's remarks differently with full context.