Biden: 'When are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?'

US president addresses a nation rife with gun violence

As details of the mass shooting that took place at a Texas primary school trickled in late on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden addressed the nation and spoke directly to Congress as well as weapons manufacturers.

“As a nation, we have to ask, when in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Mr Biden asked in a White House address, with first lady Jill Biden by his side.

US first lady Jill Biden stands beside US President Joe Biden after a gunman shot dead 19 young children at a primary school in Texas. AFP

The shooting occurred only days after Mr Biden visited Buffalo, New York where a white supremacist opened fire in grocery store and killed 10 people.

On Tuesday, an 18-year-old entered the Uvalde, Texas school and killed at least 19 children and two adults.

Sgt Erick Estrada of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that the shooter, dressed in body armour, crashed his vehicle near the school, was engaged by law enforcement, “but made his way into the school anyway and went classroom to classroom shooting”.

“I am sick and tired we have to act,” said Mr Biden.

“And don't tell me we can’t have an impact on this carnage. I spent my career as a senator and a vice president working to pass common sense gun laws.

"When we passed the assault weapons ban, mass shootings went down. When the law expired, mass shootings tripled.”

Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters

A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters

Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters

Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters

A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters

People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters

Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP

People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP

Flowers are left outside the school. AFP

Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo

Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP

A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP

Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP

Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP

The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters

Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters

People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP

Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA

A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP

Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Families at the vigil. AFP

A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP

Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP

Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP

Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters

A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg

Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters

Mr Biden said that the majority of Americans support common sense gun laws and that the US is the only place in the world where these types of tragedies occur.

“Why? Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?” Mr Biden asked.

"It's time to turn this pain into action for every parent, for every citizen of this country. We have to make it clear to every elected official in this country: it's time to act. "

The US is the most heavily armed society in the world, figures compiled by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, a research group, show.

Small, rural states where gun ownership is widespread have a disproportionate influence in the US Senate, where a super-majority of 60 votes is needed to advance most legislation in the 100-seat chamber.

The Uvalde shooting was the deadliest at a US primary school since that at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago, where 26 people died.

Mr Biden ordered the flags at the White House and at US federal and public buildings to be flown at half-staff until sunset on May 28.

The shooting also comes days before Texas Governor Jim Abbott, Senator Ted Cruz and former president Donald Trump are scheduled to speak at a National Rifle Association conference in Houston.