‘She was my baby’: A family mourns, and pleads for action, in Uvalde.

Two days after their daughter, Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, was shot and killed in Uvalde, Texas, Kimberly Rubio and her husband are urging elected officials to pass restrictive gun laws to help prevent future tragedies.

“We live in this really small town in this red state, and everyone keeps telling us, you know, that it’s not the time to be political, but it is — it is,” Ms. Rubio said, her voice breaking through tears. “Don’t let this happen to anybody else.”

Their family was contacted by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office on Wednesday, she said, and asked if they would be willing to meet with the governor. Ms. Rubio and her husband declined.

“My first thought was, ‘My Lexi doesn’t even like him,’” she said. “She was really little, but we talked about this stuff at home.”

Felix Rubio, Lexi’s father, said officials should outlaw the purchase of AR-15 rifles, which the gunman in Uvalde used.

He said some people in the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, where he is a deputy, may not like him for supporting such measures, but gun control laws could help prevent another massacre.

“Our baby wanted to be a lawyer; she wanted to make a difference,” Ms. Rubio said. “Please make sure she makes one now.”

Ms. Rubio and her husband recalled how they had waited until the last moment to name their daughter 10 years ago. Finally, it came to them in the hospital as they held their girl protectively, shrugging off the teasing from staff about their procrastination.

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, they decided. Or Lexi, as family and friends would come to call her later.

Ms. Rubio had imagined what it would sound like at graduation, as her girl, who got all A’s in elementary school and dreamed of being a lawyer, walked across the aisle, donning a cap and gown.

On Tuesday, that vision was taken.

“She was my baby,” Ms. Rubio said.

Earlier that day, Lexi, 10, had received a good citizenship award and an honor roll award for getting all A’s, Ms. Rubio said. Hours later, the scene outside the school transformed as officers, ambulances and crying parents arrived.

Mr. Rubio, 35, said he responded to the initial reports of a shooting and saw the authorities shoot the gunman. He did not share more details.

“It sucks whenever you’re in the same field with your baby and you can’t go in there —” he said, his voice breaking. “And go get her.”

Other officers did not let him enter the classroom where the massacre occurred, he said.

On Thursday, they were huddled at home, speaking about the things Lexi had looked forward to: volleyball in the seventh grade, learning more about feminism, softball and basketball practice with her father.

Lexi was shy at times, but when there was a point she wanted to get across, “she made it,” Ms. Rubio said.

Now, Ms. Rubio and her husband said they would follow their daughter’s example and fight for restrictions on firearms.