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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) tried to comfort Texans on Wednesday, one day after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in the states deadliest school shooting, by telling them that it could have been worse.

Abbott said at a press conference that Texans need love and mental health care after an 18-year-old gunman went on a shooting rampage at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.

All Texans must come together and support the families who have been affected by this horrific tragedy, he said. What they need now more than ever is our love. What they need is uplifting from all of our fellow Texans and all of our fellow Americans.

Governor Abbott says, \"it could have been worse.\"

A lot of people talking about this line in our comment section right now.

Abbott is giving an update on the Uvalde school shooting in Texas that left 19 students, 2 adults and the gunman deceased. https://t.co/h3EO8HDla8 pic.twitter.com/MQIzWc9uZ8

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Governor Abbott says, "it could have been worse."

A lot of people talking about this line in our comment section right now.

Abbott is giving an update on the Uvalde school shooting in Texas that left 19 students, 2 adults and the gunman deceased. https://t.co/h3EO8HDla8 pic.twitter.com/MQIzWc9uZ8
JB Biunno #HeyJB (@WFLAJB) May 25, 2022

The reality is, as horrible as what happened, it could have been worse, Abbott said. The reason it was not worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do: They showed amazing courage by running toward gun fire for the singular purpose of trying to save lives.

The lone gunman, who authorities said purchased two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition last week ahead of the attack, was briefly stopped by responding law enforcement after arriving outside the school. He exchanged gunfire with the officers but was still able to enter a fourth-grade classroom, barricade the door, and continue shooting.

When it comes to stopping or slowing future violent acts, Abbott said, the focus should not be on gun control. Instead, he said he wants to make sure that everybody in this community has the access they need, for as long as they need it, to address the mental, emotional health care needs that they have.

However, he also said he would not reconsider accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid to address the issue.

Abbott said 18-year-olds in Texas have been able to buy guns for 60 years. He also dismissed the relevancy of prior school shootings in his state, saying that for the majority of those 60 years we do not have school shootings.