Washington: Academy Award–winning actor Matthew McConaughey, who grew up in Uvalde, Texas, took centre stage at the White House briefing to call on Congress to “reach a higher ground” and pass gun control legislation in honour of the children and teachers killed in last month’s shooting rampage at an elementary school in his home town.

In a highly personal 22-minute speech, McConaughey offered a full-throated exhortation for a gridlocked Congress to pass gun reforms that can save lives without infringing on Second Amendment rights.

McConaughey used his star power to make an argument for legislation in a fashion that the Biden administration has not been able to, offering a clear connection to the small Texas town and vivid detail on the sheer loss of the 19 children and two teachers in the second worst mass school shooting in US history.

“We want secure and safe schools and we want gun laws that won’t make it so easy for the bad guys to get the damn guns,” McConaughey said.

The actor acknowledged that gun legislation would not end mass shootings but suggested that steps can be taken to lessen the chances of such tragedies happening so frequently.

“We need to invest in mental healthcare, we need safer schools, we need to restore family values, we need responsible gun ownership, we need background checks, we need red flag laws, we need to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 rifle to 21.”

McConaughey also called for ways to “restrain sensationalised media coverage. We need to restore our family values. We need to restore our American values and we need responsible gun ownership,” McConaughey said.

“Is this a cure all? Hell no, but people are hurting.”

The actor, who considered a run for governor in Texas before taking a pass, met briefly with President Joe Biden before addressing the White House press corps from the James Brady briefing room.