Texas’s lieutenant governor reacted to a deadly school shooting by suggesting schools have too many doors.

“We may have to look at the design of our schools moving forward and retrofitting schools that are already built. There are too many entrances and too many exits”, Dan Patrick said during a press conference after a gunman killed at least 10 people at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas.

In a familiar ritual, official updates on the toll gave way to vows from public officials to prevent a similar massacre. Texas Gov Greg Abbott said “it’s time in Texas we take action to step up and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again”, saying he would work with legislators to find as-yet-unidentified “solutions”.

While some reacted to the bloodshed by calling for tougher gun control laws, Mr Patrick emphasised what he called a hazardous number of entrances and exits to schools

“There are not enough people to put a guard in every entrance or exit”, Mr Patrick said, adding that “maybe we need to look at limiting the entrances and exits into our schools so that we can have law enforcement looking at the people who are coming”.

His remark swiftly drew a wave of rebuttals. Among those pushing back was California Lt Gov Gavin Newsom, a staunch gun control advocate and frontrunner to become the state’s next governor.

Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Show all 15 1 /15 Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Santa Fe High School staff react as they gather in the parking lot of a gas station The Galveston County Daily News via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school An active shooter incident was reported at Santa Fe High School in Texas KTRK-TV ABC13 via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school People embrace outside the Alamo Gym where students and parents wait to reunite following a shooting at Santa Fe High School Houston Chronicle via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Law enforcement officers responding at Santa Fe High School HCSO via Reuters Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Santa Fe High School student Dakota Shrader is comforted by her mother Susan Davidson following a shooting at the school Stuart Villanueva/The Galveston County Daily News via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school School staff members sit in a school bus to be transported to another school The Galveston County Daily News via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school A Santa Fe Police officer consoles others after the shooting The Galveston County Daily News via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Emergency personnel and law enforcement officers respond to claims that an active shooter was reported on campus KTRK-TV ABC13 via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Police officers work a check point in front of Santa Fe High School The Galveston County Daily News via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school A woman prays in the grass outside the Alamo Gym where parents wait to reunite with their kids following a shooting at Santa Fe High School Houston Chronicle via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Santa Fe High School freshman Caitlyn Girouard, center, hugs her friend outside the Alamo Gym Houston Chronicle via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school A Pearland Police armored vehicle stands in front of Santa Fe High School The Galveston County Daily News via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school Emergency responders from multiple agencies work at the scene The Galveston County Daily News via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school In this image taken from video law enforcement officers respond to a high school near Houston after an active shooter was reported on campus, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Santa Fe, Texas. The Santa Fe school district issued an alert Friday morning saying Santa Fe High School has been placed on lockdown. (KTRK-TV ABC13 via AP) KTRK-TV ABC13 via AP Texas shooting: scene at Santa Fe high school In this image taken from video law enforcement officers respond to a high school near Houston after an active shooter was reported on campus, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Santa Fe, Texas. The Santa Fe school district issued an alert Friday morning saying Santa Fe High School has been placed on lockdown. (KTRK-TV ABC13 via AP) KTRK-TV ABC13 via AP

“Updated @GOP talking point: guns don't kill people, doors kill people”, Mr Newsom tweeted in response to a clip of Mr Patrick’s remarks.

A mass shooting at Parkland, Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this year failed to produce any concrete policy changes on the federal level, but it did push the state’s Republican-controlled legislature and governor to alter gun laws.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott proposes changes he'd like to push through state legislature