‘Hey Beto, how you feel exploiting dead kids?’: Drew Hernandez confronts O’Rourke

“Hey Beto? How do you feel exploiting dead kids?” Hernanzes asked.

Instead of responding, ORourke ignored the inquiry and walked away from Hernandez, who is also a member of Turning Point USA.

On Wednesday, ORourke approached the stage where Texas Governor Greg Abbott was briefing the public about the attack that killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas and interrupted.

"This was on you," ORourke said. "This was totally predictable."

ORourke is challenging Abbott for his governor seat this year.

Hernandez repeatedly asked ORourke to address his actions, but ORourke ignored the questions and instead greeted those around him.

ORourke has long been an advocate for gun control laws and has previously framed himself as one of the only political figures in Texas willing to take such a stance. During his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, ORourke said he would present legislation to outlaw the AR15, one of the most prevalent firearms in the US.

"Hell yes I would take your AR15," he said during a 2019 debate. "If it’s an arm that was designed to kill people on a battlefield… we will not allow you to use them against fellow Americans anymore."

His comments to Governor Abbott and Texas leadership Wednesday catapulted ORourke into the national spotlight over one of the most sensitive and controversial policy issues.

"I can’t believe you would come to a thing like this to make a political issue," one members of the Texas leadership shouted back.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin yelled that O'Rourke was a "sick son of a bitch."

Members in the audience joined in calling for ORourke’s removal from the room. The former congressman was quickly escorted out of the auditorium by security.