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Oxford school shooting: Chris Murphy hailed for impassioned plea on 'sanctity of life'

Chris Murphy said he had been driving home when he thought of the speeches on the 'sanctity of life' that notable Republicans had given

Democrat Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut was lauded after his impassioned speech on the Senate floor against his anti-abortion Republican colleagues on Tuesday, November 30. The 48-year-old politician accused them of hypocrisy in light of the recent school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan.

Murphy explained that he had been driving home when he thought of the speeches on the "sanctity of life" that notable Republicans had given, condemning abortion in anticipation of the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in a case that could potentially overturn Roe v Wade, The Hill reported.

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"This concern for 'life' apparently doesn't extend to the kids who were shot today in a school in Michigan," Murphy wrote on Twitter. "So I turned the car around, and went to the Senate floor."

Murphy expressed anger at how gun violence had become a norm in the US. Three students at Oxford High School were killed and at least eight others were injured in the shooting. The suspect has since been taken into custody. "I understand that my Republican colleagues have very strong views on issues related to abortion. But I listened to my Republican colleagues come down here one after another today and talk about the sanctity of life, the very moment that moms and dads in Michigan were being told their kids weren't coming home because they were shot at school due to a country that has accepted gun violence due to Republicans' fealty to the gun lobby," Murphy said.

"It happens here in America because we choose to let it happen. We're not unlucky. This is purposeful. This is a choice made by the United States Senate to sit on our hands and do nothing," he continued, saying lawmakers were "endorsing" potentially dangerous individuals by not doing enough to curb gun violence. "I'm beyond my tipping point," he said. "Please, I beg my colleagues, if you're going to come down here and talk about the sanctity of life, explain to the American people why the gun lobby matters more than the safety of our children who are walking into school every day fearing for their life," he added.

The Connecticut Senator was lauded by gun-control advocates on social media. "Please stop what you’re doing and take a look at this passion from Chris Murphy…" wrote a user, while posting a video of the speech. "Chris Murphy is incredible. But why does it feel like he’s one of the only people in Washington that is constantly sick of seeing children die from gun violence? His colleagues could literally help him make this stop," Dem strategist Adam Parkhomenko tweeted.

"We've obviously entered a stage of general acceptance that school shootings are a part of life and pretty much Chris Murphy and a few others members are the only ones screaming out: no," journalist Sam Stein commented. "Thank you @ChrisMurphy. And yea this is a choice we as a country are making every month - an insane one, to do nothing about death," one Twitter user wrote.

"Thank you, Chris Murphy, for speaking on behalf of the majority of Americans. Police officers, hunters, most people agree with gun safety laws. Let’s pass them," another chimed in. "For the life of me, I cannot see how anyone can still be so infuriating pro-gun when kids today are way too good at preparing to be shot at school. There are so many failures of the US government today but… this one has a really bad bite to it. Thank you, Chris Murphy," someone else added.