Uvalde families gather at Texas Capitol for Day of the Dead

Texas School Shooting Day of the Dead Family and community members lay flowers on a Day of the Dead altar honoring the lives of the Uvalde school shooting victims on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Acacia Coronado)
Texas School Shooting Day of the Dead Family members of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting carry a Day of the Dead altar honoring the lives of the victims in a procession from the Texas State Capitol in Austin to the mansion of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Acacia Coronado)
Texas School Shooting Day of the Dead Family members of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting carry a Day of the Dead altar honoring the lives of the victims in a procession from the Texas State Capitol in Austin to the mansion of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Acacia Coronado)
Texas School Shooting Day of the Dead Family members of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting carry flowers to place on a Day of the Dead altar honoring the lives of the victims on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Austin. (AP Photo/Acacia Coronado)
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —

Relatives, who marched to the mansion of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott carrying the altar, chose the location to again demand tougher gun laws in Texas following the May shooting at Robb Elementary School. They have been most vocal about raising the age to purchase AR-15-style rifles from 18 to 21. Abbott, who is up for reelection, has pushed back on that, saying it would be “unconstitutional.”

“We are here today celebrating our children’s lives,” said Kimberly Rubio, whose daughter Lexi Rubio died in the Uvalde shooting, “but also trying to reach out to parents on a personal, on a mom and dad level. Just if you care about your children, protect them, go out to vote for candidates who support sensible gun legislation.”

Day of the Dead — or Dia de los Muertos — is a Mexican and Latino holiday in which people celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones and encourage their souls to visit with them. Nearly three-quarters of the residents of Uvalde are Hispanic.

Abbott is running for a third term against Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who has drawn the support of several Robb Elementary parents but faces an uphill climb in Tuesday’s election.

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For more AP coverage of the Uvalde school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting

Follow AP’s coverage of the elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections

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