The US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to “stand up to the gun lobby” and put pressure on Congress to pass common-sense gun laws.

He was speaking after 19 children and two teachers were murdered by a gunman who opened fire at a primary school in Texas yesterday.

The gunman was shot dead after the rampage at Robb Elementary School in the city of Uvalde, around 80 miles west of San Antonio.

A number of other children are being treated for injuries this morning and police are investigating whether the gunman also shot his grandmother before the attack.

The school has just under 600 students aged from five to 11-years-old.

'Time to act'

Addressing the nation after the massacre last night, US President Joe Biden said it is “time to act” on US gun laws.

“As a nation, we have to ask: When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” he said.

“When in God’s name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?”

Gun lobby

He said it has now been ten years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre – and there have been over 900 incidents of gunfire reported at US schools since.

“I am sick and tired of it,” he said. “We have to act – and don’t tell me we can’t have an impact on this carnage.

“I spent my career as a senator and as Vice President working to pass common sense gun laws. We can’t and won’t prevent every tragedy, but we know they work and have a positive impact.

“When we passed the assault weapons ban, mass shootings went down. When the law expired, mass shootings tripled.

“The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong. What in God’s name do you need an assault weapon for except to kill someone?

“Deer aren’t running through the forest with Kevlar vests on, for God’s sake. It’s just sick – and the gun manufacturers have spent two decades aggressively marketing assault weapons which make them the most and largest profit.

“For God’s sake, we have to have the courage to stand up to the industry.”

"Carnage"

President Biden noted that similar mass shooting rarely happen anywhere else in the world.

“Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God’s name is our backbone to have the courage to deal with it and stand up to the lobbies?” he said.

“It’s time to turn this pain into action. For every parent, for every citizen in this country, we have to make it clear to every elected official in this country: It’s time to act.

“It’s time. For those who obstruct or delay or block the common sense gun laws, we need to let you know that we will not forget.”

Robb Elementary School teacher Eva Mireles.

The first victim of the massacre has been named as fourth grade schoolteacher Eva Mireles.

She has a daughter, was married to a policeman and was an educator for 17 years.

Her aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, said she was "very loved" and described her as "the fun of the party".