Madonna shared a haunting video with an impassioned, lengthy caption as the emotional backlash mounts feverishly following the recent mass shooting in the US.
A day after 18-year-old Salvador Ramos rioted and opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the 63-year-old pop megastar is the latest high-profile person to speak out against gun violence and in favor of more gun safety laws.
Before being taken down and killed by law enforcement, the lone gunman shot and killed 19 young children, two teachers and wounded 17 others in the third deadliest school shooting in the United States after the 2007 Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook elementary school shootings in 2012.
Change is needed now: Madonna, 63, took to her social media platforms to express her fear and anger at the Texas school shooting and called for improved gun safety laws
“I can’t imagine the heartbreak and grief the parents of these 19 children must be feeling,” the Like A Prayer star began in her lengthy caption, alongside a clip of her in her music video for God Control, which featured her Madame X stems tears album (2019).
“I have kids in elementary school, and if one day they didn’t come home from school, I don’t think I could survive.”
With a total of six children, Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone) has nine-year-old adoptive twins, Stella and Estere, and 16-year-old Mercy and David, whom she also adopted.
She also has a daughter Lourdes, 25, who she shares with ex Carlos Leon, and a son Rocco, 21, from her marriage to ex-husband Guy Ritchie.
Empathetic: The Like A Prayer star revealed that she has children of primary school age and that if they didn’t come home one day, she didn’t know if she could survive
Choir sings: The pop superstar also shared a clip from her 2019 God Control video
Making Her Case: God Control, which called for better gun safety laws, appeared on Madonna’s fourteenth studio album, Madame X (2019).
Tough questions: Madonna asked how an 18-year-old boy “can buy two automatic rifles on his birthday, with no background check, no safety training, no questions asked?????”
Continuing her emotional plea, the Michigan native questioned how an 18-year-old boy “can buy two automatic rifles on his birthday, with no background check, no safety training, no questions asked?????”
She went on to reveal the warnings the shooter posted on social media about his plans to “shoot his grandmother and students at a school.”
With her pain and anger seeping through her, she added, “The NRA refuses to change its position and the legislature cannot pass a single law mandating stricter firearm safety laws. Despite the fact that there have been more gun deaths in America than there are days this year. How is that possible???’
Madonna then demanded that we “protect our children” and “restrict access to firearms for people at risk of harming themselves or others.”
Rampage: 18-year-old Salvador Ramos is accused of opening fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday
Senseless violence: 19 young children and two teachers were killed in the rampage
“We need to insist on compulsory gun ownership education, just like we require people to study and pass a test to get a driver’s license,” explained the seven-time Grammy winner, adding, “A car is a potential.” weapon if not used properly. Such is a gun !!! Didn’t anyone draw this connection? If we can’t change the constitution, we need to ask lawmakers to pass gun reform NOW!!’
She finished her plea: “How tragic is it that we have to beg to protect all children – all people – from gun violence? No more words, just actions.’
The video, which shows a singing choir and a row of caskets, ends with “Don’t we have enough???” followed by photos of the latest young victims and images of Madonna removing her glasses as tears trickle down her cheeks
It ends with Madonna almost whispering “Wake up” as each letter is typed on the screen.
End of line: At the end of the video, Madonna asks, “Don’t we have enough???”
Her Opinion: “We need to insist on mandatory training for gun owners, just like we require people to study and pass a test to get a driver’s license,” the Grammy winner explained
Act Now: “If we can’t change the Constitution, we need to ask lawmakers to pass gun reform NOW!”
Ramos is said to have shot his grandmother before he went to elementary school. At the last check, she was hospitalized in critical condition, according to CNN.
Among the many celebrities coming forward demanding improved gun safety laws and training are Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Taylor Swift, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr, LeBron James.
The Texas school shooting came just 10 days after police said an 18-year-old self-proclaimed white supremacist opened fire and killed 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, where he was reportedly targeting and murdering black shoppers .
Simple truth: Madonna asked, “Who are we if we can’t protect our children?” on Instagram
She’s had enough: “Madonna is asking lawmakers to push for new gun safety laws
Tortured: The Material Girl declared: “Enough is enough!!!” in her Instagram message