School shootings in the United States are common.
The crime committed on Tuesday afternoon in the state of Texas is one of the deadliest in the country's history, with 22 deaths so far.
An 18-year-old killed 19 children and two adults with an assault rifle before being shot dead by security forces.
The shock of the brutality of the act is great.
Celebrities also speak out publicly and express their sadness.
Singer Taylor Swift tweeted to her fans: "I am filled with anger and sadness and so heartbroken by the murders in Uvalde.
Through Buffalo, Laguna Woods and so many others.
By how we, as a nation, have been conditioned to unbelievable and unbearable grief.” She shared a video of basketball coach Steve Kerr emotionally calling for a change in US gun laws at a pre-game press conference.
Numerous others reacted in a similar way.
So does actress Selena Gomez.
She wrote on the news service that it was time to end the lip service and finally initiate changes in the law.
“If children are not safe at school, then where are they?” she asks afterwards.
Actor Chris Evans sums up his view in a few words: "Damn enough!!!!", he writes on Twitter.
Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, himself from Uvalde in Texas, published a longer text on his Instagram channel.
"Once again we have tragically proven that we fail to deal responsibly with our rights," said the actor.
"We can't just breathe easy again, make excuses and accept these tragic realities as the status quo," he continues.
The demands of the celebrities evoke many positive reactions online and are liked and shared thousands of times.
However, it remains to be seen to what extent the broad approval will actually lead to a movement that will bring about a change in the law.