Lindsey Graham leaves door open to debating gun control after Texas elementary school shooting leaves 19 children dead

• GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said he's leaving the door open for debating gun control after Tuesday's mass shooting.
• "I welcome a debate in the US Senate about any and all measures," he tweeted late Tuesday night.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham left the door open to debating measures like gun control after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults in a shooting at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday.

"Hopefully over time we will have a better understanding of what led to these senseless acts," Graham tweeted late Monday night. "As to what to do next, I welcome a debate in the U.S. Senate about any and all measures that my colleagues believe will have an effect. Let's debate and vote."

The South Carolina lawmaker said in 2021 that he owns an AR-15 assault rifle, the weapon that has been used in previous mass shootings, and is a long-time supporter of gun ownership — arguing against bans on semi-automatic weapons.

Many Democratic lawmakers, including President Joe Biden, made statements in the hours following the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School calling again for stricter gun control at a state and federal level.

"The gun lobby has spent two decades aggressively marketing assault weapons," Biden said in an emotional address to the nation on Monday night, calling for restrictions on assault weapons.

Meanwhile, top Texas Republicans — including Senator Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Ken Paxton have responded to the tragedy by calling for more guns in schools and expanding firearm access.

Tuesday's shooting marked the deadliest at an elementary school since 20 children and six adults were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.