INSIDER
“Somber day” in Uvalde as community commemorates one year since Robb Elementary shooting
Read full article: “Somber day” in Uvalde as community commemorates one year since Robb Elementary shootingNumerous vigils and memorials in Uvalde marked one year since the massacre at Robb Elementary School. In what became the deadliest school shooting in Texas, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers and injured 17 others.
Listen: Through art, keepsakes and advocacy, families are making sure 21 Uvalde victims are not forgotten
Read full article: Listen: Through art, keepsakes and advocacy, families are making sure 21 Uvalde victims are not forgottenWednesday marks exactly a year since a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. The community continues to grapple with the trauma and pain, and for those who lost someone that day, they’re determined to keep the memories of their loved ones alive.
Mandatory 10-year sentences for some crimes involving guns revived by Texas Senate
Read full article: Mandatory 10-year sentences for some crimes involving guns revived by Texas SenateThe idea appeared to die in the Texas House over the weekend, but senators kept it alive by grafting the proposal on to another piece of legislation.
Gun safety advocates see signs of progress in first session after Uvalde shooting even though raise-the-age bill stalled
Read full article: Gun safety advocates see signs of progress in first session after Uvalde shooting even though raise-the-age bill stalledEmotions often ran high over a proposal to limit young adults’ access to some firearms. Lawmakers have largely prioritized school safety measures, but there was still progress for some gun-related legislation.
Watch a documentary about the Uvalde shooting from The Texas Tribune, Frontline and Futuro Investigates
Read full article: Watch a documentary about the Uvalde shooting from The Texas Tribune, Frontline and Futuro InvestigatesThe film, “After Uvalde: Guns, Grief and Texas Politics,” was broadcast nationally on PBS and is also available for streaming on The Texas Tribune and Frontline’s websites.
Watch: A Uvalde family remembers their 10-year-old through the mementos he left behind
Read full article: Watch: A Uvalde family remembers their 10-year-old through the mementos he left behindEvadulia Orta’s son, Rojélio Torres, died in the school shooting in Uvalde last year. Her other children still collect Pokémon cards to add to his collection, and his cousins play with his football.
Greg Abbott says to stop mass shootings, Texas must improve mental health care. A $25 billion investment hasn’t been enough.
Read full article: Greg Abbott says to stop mass shootings, Texas must improve mental health care. A $25 billion investment hasn’t been enough.Texas still lags nationally when it comes to mental health services and there have been seven mass shootings since Abbott took office in 2015.
Deaths from firearms keep climbing in Texas, decades after lawmakers began weakening gun regulations
Read full article: Deaths from firearms keep climbing in Texas, decades after lawmakers began weakening gun regulationsThe rate of firearm-related deaths in Texas has reached a level not seen since the 1990s. Texas lawmakers have approved more than 100 bills that loosened gun restrictions since 2000.
Raise-the-age gun bill misses crucial deadline, as Uvalde parents protest outside the Texas House
Read full article: Raise-the-age gun bill misses crucial deadline, as Uvalde parents protest outside the Texas HouseDays after another mass shooting in Texas, the measure to raise the minimum age from 18 to 21 to purchase semi-automatic rifles appears to have failed.
Allen mall shooting alarms Asian Texans as authorities search for gunman’s motive
Read full article: Allen mall shooting alarms Asian Texans as authorities search for gunman’s motiveFour of the eight people killed in the North Texas attack were of Asian descent. Law enforcement officials said the gunman held neo-Nazi beliefs.
Allen mall shooting victims include three kids and a couple who leave behind their 6-year-old son
Read full article: Allen mall shooting victims include three kids and a couple who leave behind their 6-year-old sonA security guard, an engineer, and a child as young as three were among the eight victims of the shooting at the Allen outlet mall on Saturday.
In surprise move days after Allen mall shooting, Texas House panel OKs bill raising age to buy semi-automatic rifles
Read full article: In surprise move days after Allen mall shooting, Texas House panel OKs bill raising age to buy semi-automatic riflesThe legislation would raise the minimum age for purchasing certain firearms but likely wouldn’t have been a hindrance to the Allen gunman obtaining a weapon. The bill still faces an uphill climb in the Legislature.
‘This can’t be happening’: Allen becomes latest US town to grapple with a mass shooting
Read full article: ‘This can’t be happening’: Allen becomes latest US town to grapple with a mass shootingAfter mall shooting, residents of the Dallas suburb are experiencing familiar rituals: mourning, anger and despair.
Poll finds solid majority of Texans, even Republicans, favor raising age for gun purchases
Read full article: Poll finds solid majority of Texans, even Republicans, favor raising age for gun purchasesThe University of Texas survey also found stronger support for Sen. Ted Cruz, while Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis remain popular among Republicans.
A divided Uvalde hasn’t had time to heal, speakers say
Read full article: A divided Uvalde hasn’t had time to heal, speakers sayDuring a Texas Tribune event marking one year since the shooting at Robb Elementary School, parents, mental health experts and faith leaders talked about how the path to recovery isn’t the same for everybody.
In overnight testimony, Uvalde victims’ family members call on Texas lawmakers to raise age to buy semi-automatic guns
Read full article: In overnight testimony, Uvalde victims’ family members call on Texas lawmakers to raise age to buy semi-automatic gunsThe families of Uvalde shooting victims waited hours to testify at a House committee hearing in support of House Bill 2744, which would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21.
Texas House committee debates firearms bills filed in response to Uvalde shooting
Read full article: Texas House committee debates firearms bills filed in response to Uvalde shootingThe House Select Committee on Community Safety is scheduled to hear testimony on bills that would change how people buy firearms and how authorities report those purchases. One of these bills would raise the minimum age to 21 years old to purchase certain semi-automatic rifles.
After years of little progress, Texas gun control and safety advocates see some small openings for dialogue at the Capitol
Read full article: After years of little progress, Texas gun control and safety advocates see some small openings for dialogue at the CapitolMany bills that would limit access to firearms or ammunition likely won’t become law anytime soon. But people who advocate at the Texas Capitol see emerging signs that there’s appetite for finding some middle ground.
Texas Senate approves bill that would create mandatory prison or probation terms for some gun crimes
Read full article: Texas Senate approves bill that would create mandatory prison or probation terms for some gun crimesSen. Joan Huffman said the bill was in response to increased violent crime since 2019. Legislative researchers could not determine how the bill would affect the state’s prison population.
TribCast: Police officers’ fear of the AR-15 in Robb Elementary
Read full article: TribCast: Police officers’ fear of the AR-15 in Robb ElementaryIn this week’s episode, we discuss the weapon used by the school shooter in Uvalde and new details that highlight how fear of the gun contributed to the botched police response.
‘He has a battle rifle’: Police feared Uvalde gunman’s AR-15
Read full article: ‘He has a battle rifle’: Police feared Uvalde gunman’s AR-15In previously unreleased interviews, police who responded to the Robb Elementary shooting told investigators they were cowed by the shooter’s military-style rifle. This drove their decision to wait for a Border Patrol SWAT team to engage him, which took more than an hour.
Texas bill requiring 10-year prison sentences for gun felonies faces opposition from criminal justice and firearm advocates
Read full article: Texas bill requiring 10-year prison sentences for gun felonies faces opposition from criminal justice and firearm advocatesUnder Senate Bill 23, all felonies involving a gun would incur a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. It’s meant to curb crime, despite the lack of correlation between harsher sentences and crime rates.
SXSW EDU panelists say the only solution to school safety is to address gun policy and mental health, not one or the other
Read full article: SXSW EDU panelists say the only solution to school safety is to address gun policy and mental health, not one or the otherGun policy reform is the best way to address school safety, according to experts on a panel in Austin. They also cautioned against doubling down on surveillance technology.
Texas Senate passes first bill this session, a bipartisan effort to close teen gun loophole
Read full article: Texas Senate passes first bill this session, a bipartisan effort to close teen gun loopholeIn its first bill passed this session, the Texas Senate sought to ensure juvenile mental health hospitalizations are reported to the federal firearm background check system.
Texas superintendent resigns after student finds his gun in school bathroom
Read full article: Texas superintendent resigns after student finds his gun in school bathroomThe incident comes as lawmakers debate how to make schools safer after the Uvalde massacre and favor measures like arming more educators.
Biden rule reclassifying some pistols as short-barreled rifles draws Texas lawsuit
Read full article: Biden rule reclassifying some pistols as short-barreled rifles draws Texas lawsuitThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives amended a rule that classifies guns with “stabilized braces” as rifles, which are subject to different regulations, triggering the objection of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gun Owners of America.
‘Terrifying’ appeals court ruling says alleged domestic abusers have a constitutional right to keep their guns
Read full article: ‘Terrifying’ appeals court ruling says alleged domestic abusers have a constitutional right to keep their gunsAdvocates for domestic violence victims were stunned by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which continued a string of court decisions citing the Second Amendment to erase gun restrictions.
After fumbled Uvalde shooting response, Texas senator wants to make it easier to sue law enforcement officers
Read full article: After fumbled Uvalde shooting response, Texas senator wants to make it easier to sue law enforcement officersState Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a San Antonio Democrat, introduced a package of legislation that includes a bill that would end qualified immunity, which shields government officials from liability for constitutional violations.
Texas drops fight to prevent 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying handguns in public
Read full article: Texas drops fight to prevent 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying handguns in publicA federal judge ruled earlier this year that a state law banning young adults from publicly carrying handguns is unconstitutional. The state no longer plans to appeal that ruling.
Mother of 10-year-old Uvalde shooting victim sues school district, police and gun manufacturer
Read full article: Mother of 10-year-old Uvalde shooting victim sues school district, police and gun manufacturerThe lawsuit accuses Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the shooter’s weapon, of marketing that primes “young buyers to purchase AR-15-style rifles as soon as they are legally able.”
Federal judge in Texas rules that disarming those under protective orders violates their Second Amendment rights
Read full article: Federal judge in Texas rules that disarming those under protective orders violates their Second Amendment rightsU.S. District Judge David Counts signed another opinion Thursday that cited a lack of historical record on laws relating to domestic violence to justify disarming abusers. Advocates fear the ruling will put more victims in harm’s way.
Panic buttons, automatic locks and bulletproof windows top the proposed safety rules after Uvalde shooting
Read full article: Panic buttons, automatic locks and bulletproof windows top the proposed safety rules after Uvalde shootingThese proposed requirements could take effect this school year after the Texas Education Agency takes public comment into consideration.
Texas state trooper who responded to Uvalde shooting fired amid investigations into police response
Read full article: Texas state trooper who responded to Uvalde shooting fired amid investigations into police responseDepartment of Public Safety Sgt. Juan Maldonado is the first state police officer fired in the aftermath of a botched police response to the shooting. He was the highest-ranking state trooper to initially respond to Robb Elementary School.
Texas struggles to get guns away from domestic violence suspects, leaving victims in danger
Read full article: Texas struggles to get guns away from domestic violence suspects, leaving victims in dangerAlthough there are laws on the books preventing certain people from possessing guns, there are few places in the state where the criminal justice system has programs to hand over firearms to law enforcement — leaving survivors at a heightened risk for gun violence.
Uvalde school officials approve terms of superintendent’s retirement without publicly disclosing them
Read full article: Uvalde school officials approve terms of superintendent’s retirement without publicly disclosing themThe school board also named Gary Patterson as the interim superintendent, but didn’t say when he would start or Harrell would depart.
Uvalde schools hire — and then fire — former DPS trooper under investigation for shooting response
Read full article: Uvalde schools hire — and then fire — former DPS trooper under investigation for shooting responseGov. Greg Abbott said the school district knew the ex-trooper “had actions inconsistent with training and department requirements.”
35 family members of Uvalde shooting victims throw their support behind Beto O’Rourke ahead of debate
Read full article: 35 family members of Uvalde shooting victims throw their support behind Beto O’Rourke ahead of debateIn a news conference ahead of the only gubernatorial debate, 35 family members of Uvalde school shooting victims said they would support O’Rourke because of Gov. Greg Abbott’s inaction on gun control measures.
LIVE: Families of three Uvalde shooting survivors sue school district, gun makers, city officials and others
Read full article: LIVE: Families of three Uvalde shooting survivors sue school district, gun makers, city officials and othersThe lawsuit says each defendant played a part in the shooting’s tragic outcome, from failing to comply with safety protocols to pushing dark marketing that pitches lethal weapons to young minds.
In campaign ad, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggests mandatory 10-year sentence for gun-related crimes
Read full article: In campaign ad, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggests mandatory 10-year sentence for gun-related crimesNew mandatory sentences could be a big policy shift for Texas. But Patrick isn’t providing any details of his one-sentence proposal so it’s hard to gauge its significance.
Texas will fight to block 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying handguns
Read full article: Texas will fight to block 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying handgunsA court had ruled that the state’s ban was unconstitutional. The attorney general’s office — usually a supporter of gun rights — said it will appeal but didn’t explain why.
Texas judge rules that people under felony indictment have the right to buy guns under the Second Amendment
Read full article: Texas judge rules that people under felony indictment have the right to buy guns under the Second AmendmentA judge appointed by former President Donald Trump based his decision on a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down New York’s concealed carry law.
Five Department of Public Safety officers face a formal investigation over Uvalde shooting response
Read full article: Five Department of Public Safety officers face a formal investigation over Uvalde shooting responseHundreds of law enforcement officers from several local, state and federal agencies have been heavily criticized for the delayed response in confronting the gunman during the worst school shooting in Texas history.
Abbott says raising the age to buy an assault-style rifle is ‘unconstitutional’ based on recent court rulings
Read full article: Abbott says raising the age to buy an assault-style rifle is ‘unconstitutional’ based on recent court rulingsThe gunman in Uvalde bought two AR-15-style rifles days after he turned 18, the legal purchasing age in Texas, and used the weapons to kill 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary.
Uvalde residents question the school district’s new safety plans for first school year since mass shooting
Read full article: Uvalde residents question the school district’s new safety plans for first school year since mass shootingUvalde trustees are unsure if officers who will provide school security this year were part of the delayed response to the shooting at Robb Elementary.
Families of the Uvalde shooting victims denounce Gov. Greg Abbott’s inaction on gun reform
Read full article: Families of the Uvalde shooting victims denounce Gov. Greg Abbott’s inaction on gun reformThe governor has made a vocal enemy in the families of Robb Elementary shooting victims. They are demanding a special legislative session to reach a compromise on the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic rifles.
“I think of them always,” survivor of El Paso Walmart shooting says of those who were killed three years ago
Read full article: “I think of them always,” survivor of El Paso Walmart shooting says of those who were killed three years agoSpeaking out for the first time, an El Paso mom recounts the moments from a bank inside the Walmart where 23 people were fatally shot and dozens more were injured in 2019.
Texas’ complex relationship with firearms: Leading America in gun sales, but with a declining gun ownership rate
Read full article: Texas’ complex relationship with firearms: Leading America in gun sales, but with a declining gun ownership rateWe examine decades of data on gun ownership and gun violence to show trends across the state. Some of them might surprise you.
Uvalde residents frustrated with officials over finger pointing, conflicting accounts and leaked video
Read full article: Uvalde residents frustrated with officials over finger pointing, conflicting accounts and leaked videoResidents and victims’ families say the way local and state leaders are handling details about the state’s deadliest shooting is compounding their trauma and grief.
After Uvalde shooting, Texas leaders will spend more than $100 million on school safety, mental health
Read full article: After Uvalde shooting, Texas leaders will spend more than $100 million on school safety, mental healthAlmost half the money is going toward bullet-resistant shields for school police officers, a move that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on fellow state leaders to support.
How John Cornyn and the U.S. Senate defied 26 years of inaction to tackle gun violence
Read full article: How John Cornyn and the U.S. Senate defied 26 years of inaction to tackle gun violenceFour senators, including Cornyn, used a distinctive combination of policy expertise, legislative experience and political courage to push past obstacles that had repeatedly stymied previous attempts at compromise.
Biden signs bipartisan gun measure negotiated by Sen. John Cornyn after Uvalde shooting
Read full article: Biden signs bipartisan gun measure negotiated by Sen. John Cornyn after Uvalde shootingThe new law contains modest provisions but is the most significant gun measure passed by Congress in nearly three decades.
Texas congressman Tony Gonzales, who represents Uvalde, breaks with House Republicans to vote for gun bill
Read full article: Texas congressman Tony Gonzales, who represents Uvalde, breaks with House Republicans to vote for gun billThe U.S. House passed the legislation Friday afternoon. Nearly all Texas Republicans voted against it. The bill is widely viewed as a series of modest changes to current gun regulations, falling far short of proposals pushed by House Democrats and President Joe Biden.
U.S. Senate approves first major gun legislation since 1994, one month after Uvalde shooting
Read full article: U.S. Senate approves first major gun legislation since 1994, one month after Uvalde shootingThe legislation still needs to clear the House, where it is expected to pass. President Joe Biden has signaled he will sign the bill into law.
Supreme Court makes it harder for states to restrict guns — but ruling shouldn’t affect Texas’ loose rules
Read full article: Supreme Court makes it harder for states to restrict guns — but ruling shouldn’t affect Texas’ loose rulesThe high court found that states can’t require people to show “proper cause” for a gun permit. Texas allows people to carry handguns without a permit.
Here’s how Pete Arredondo and other law enforcement differ on what happened during the Uvalde shooting
Read full article: Here’s how Pete Arredondo and other law enforcement differ on what happened during the Uvalde shootingNew information released by law enforcement sources and the director of the Department of Public Safety tells a different story about police response to the shooting than Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo.
Texas Senate Democrats call again for a special session on gun safety in response to Uvalde shooting
Read full article: Texas Senate Democrats call again for a special session on gun safety in response to Uvalde shootingThe senators said they would support proposals like raising the age to legally own an assault weapon from 18 to 21, creating red flag laws and regulating private gun sales.
Caught between an A+ NRA rating and a nation reeling from shootings, John Cornyn is key to whether gun safety deal advances
Read full article: Caught between an A+ NRA rating and a nation reeling from shootings, John Cornyn is key to whether gun safety deal advancesThe bipartisan gun legislation could end up being a career definer for John Cornyn, Texas’ senior senator. He’s shown a past willingness to compromise but faces critics farther to his right, including his fellow senator Ted Cruz.
Ted Cruz is skeptical about red flag provision in federal bipartisan deal on guns
Read full article: Ted Cruz is skeptical about red flag provision in federal bipartisan deal on gunsRed flag laws are designed to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has championed the bipartisan agreement.
Authorities arrest Dallas-area gun trafficker who used license to carry to skirt background checks
Read full article: Authorities arrest Dallas-area gun trafficker who used license to carry to skirt background checksThe Department of Justice says the weapons illegally sold by Demontre Antwon Hackworth, 31, were later used in over a dozen crimes, including the killing of a 21-year-old Black transgender woman.
U.S. senators reach deal on gun legislation in aftermath of Uvalde shooting
Read full article: U.S. senators reach deal on gun legislation in aftermath of Uvalde shootingSen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was one of the lead negotiators for the proposal, which would expand background checks for people under 21 and encourage states to enact “red flag” laws. President Joe Biden and House Democrats had wanted to go further.
Protesters across U.S. and Texas join March for Our Lives rallies against gun violence
Read full article: Protesters across U.S. and Texas join March for Our Lives rallies against gun violenceOutside the Capitol in Austin, relatives of Jackie Cazares, 9, and Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, two of the 19 students killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, tearfully addressed a crowd.
Waiting for keys, unable to break down doors: Uvalde schools police chief defends delay in confronting gunman
Read full article: Waiting for keys, unable to break down doors: Uvalde schools police chief defends delay in confronting gunmanCriticized by law enforcement experts for slowness in taking out the shooter, Pete Arredondo described an agonizing wait for a key that would work. In an interview with The Texas Tribune, he said he hadn’t spoken out sooner because he didn’t want to compound his hometown’s grief or point blame.
John Cornyn says bipartisan gun legislation won’t include weapons bans or expanding background checks
Read full article: John Cornyn says bipartisan gun legislation won’t include weapons bans or expanding background checksCornyn on Monday made clear in a Senate floor speech that there are limits to what he and the Senate GOP conference are willing to support in their efforts to pass bipartisan gun legislation.
Texas politicians search for solutions after another mass shooting. Experts say we’ve already found them.
Read full article: Texas politicians search for solutions after another mass shooting. Experts say we’ve already found them.In arguing over causes of the latest mass shooting, political debate often overlooks the range of incremental steps that could lessen the chances of mass killing and help address the nation’s persistent gun violence.
Some Texas GOP donors urge Congress to act on gun control measures like “red flag” laws, expanded background checks
Read full article: Some Texas GOP donors urge Congress to act on gun control measures like “red flag” laws, expanded background checksMore than 250 self-declared gun enthusiasts, including donors who have contributed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaigns, have signed on to an open letter supporting Sen. John Cornyn’s efforts at bipartisan gun reform legislation.
Partisan tensions flare among Texans in congressional gun hearing
Read full article: Partisan tensions flare among Texans in congressional gun hearingHouse Democrats are combining several gun policy bills into one large package known as the Protecting our Kids Act. Among the measures in the bill: raising the age to purchase semi-automatic weapons to 21; outlawing the sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of a large-capacity magazine; and creating tax breaks for purchasing proper gun storage equipment.
Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, says it’s a “slap in the face” to be left off committee responding to shooting
Read full article: Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, says it’s a “slap in the face” to be left off committee responding to shootingGutierrez, a Democrat who has been critical of the state’s response to past shootings, said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also snubbed state senators whose districts were affected by shootings in El Paso and Santa Fe.
Gun ownership is ingrained in Uvalde’s culture. Some here are rethinking how it should be regulated.
Read full article: Gun ownership is ingrained in Uvalde’s culture. Some here are rethinking how it should be regulated.Longtime Uvalde residents say the city is a hunting mecca and the love for guns goes right along with it. But some would now support measures like raising the age limit to buy AR-style weapons or monitoring high-volume ammunition purchases.
Beto O’Rourke renews calls for tougher gun laws after Uvalde shooting, including on assault weapons
Read full article: Beto O’Rourke renews calls for tougher gun laws after Uvalde shooting, including on assault weaponsO’Rourke became known on the presidential campaign trail for his “Hell yes” promise to ban assault weapons. He’s been less vocal about the policy in his run for governor but this week, after the school shooting in Uvalde, he’s been newly assertive about the issue.
Analysis: History suggests attention on gun policy will fade well before the November elections
Read full article: Analysis: History suggests attention on gun policy will fade well before the November electionsIn addressing mass shootings, Texas’ top officials have tailored their responses to the wishes of some of their most outspoken voters. The results haven’t changed because we haven’t changed.
After another mass shooting, Texas Democrats again push for gun control measures
Read full article: After another mass shooting, Texas Democrats again push for gun control measuresThe question moving forward is whether Democrats, outnumbered in the Texas Legislature for two decades, will be able to put enough pressure on lawmakers to move on a previously intractable issue in gun-friendly Texas and that Republicans, who support looser gun laws, will fight tooth and nail.
At NRA convention after Uvalde massacre, attendees describe a culture under siege
Read full article: At NRA convention after Uvalde massacre, attendees describe a culture under siegeDeflecting blame from guns, attendees said a breakdown in society — including removing God from schools and a rise in mental illness — causes mass shootings, echoing the rhetoric of Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Watch: Grief shattered Uvalde; it has united it, too
Read full article: Watch: Grief shattered Uvalde; it has united it, tooUvalde is grieving the loss of 19 students and two teachers after Tuesday’s devastating shooting at a local elementary school. In this video, residents say their town will never be the same, but they will help each other through the healing process.
Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick cancel in-person NRA convention appearances in wake of Uvalde mass shooting
Read full article: Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick cancel in-person NRA convention appearances in wake of Uvalde mass shootingThe Republican governor will still be seen in prerecorded remarks at the organization’s annual meeting, which begins Friday in Houston.
Tale of two senators: Cruz doubles down against gun regulation while Cornyn leads GOP in negotiations
Read full article: Tale of two senators: Cruz doubles down against gun regulation while Cornyn leads GOP in negotiationsU.S. Sen. John Cornyn has a history of working across the aisle to advance small gun policy bills after mass shootings.
Watch: Texas officials hold press conference to address police response to mass shooting at Uvalde elementary school
Read full article: Watch: Texas officials hold press conference to address police response to mass shooting at Uvalde elementary schoolThe press conference is slated to begin at 1 p.m. Central time and comes after news reports quoting local residents saying that law enforcement did not enter the school fast enough.
Uvalde gunman legally bought AR rifles days before shooting, law enforcement says
Read full article: Uvalde gunman legally bought AR rifles days before shooting, law enforcement saysHe brought only one of the rifles with him into the elementary school, according to the briefing. The other was left in a truck he crashed nearby.
'We are in mourning': As parents awaited news, Uvalde residents processed their shock and grief
Read full article: 'We are in mourning': As parents awaited news, Uvalde residents processed their shock and griefFamilies gathered at the city’s civic center to await news about their children following the elementary school shooting. Other residents processed their shock and grief in places of worship.
Top Texas Republicans resist gun control and push for more armed teachers and police at schools in wake of Uvalde shooting
Read full article: Top Texas Republicans resist gun control and push for more armed teachers and police at schools in wake of Uvalde shootingAs President Joe Biden vowed to enact stricter gun laws following the Uvalde shooting, top Texas Republicans worked to create distance between the shooting and potential gun restrictions.
Analysis: Grief. Horror. Inaction. Texas mass shootings follow a numbing script
Read full article: Analysis: Grief. Horror. Inaction. Texas mass shootings follow a numbing scriptWe know what comes next. Another scar hardens on the state’s collective psyche, but little is done to prevent the next one.
Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws
Read full article: Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun lawsGov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders signaled an openness to some gun restrictions after recent mass shootings. But in the last several years, lawmakers have eased gun laws, most notably by passing a permitless carry bill last year.
Texas lawmaker defends new permitless carry law against criticism from gun control advocate
Read full article: Texas lawmaker defends new permitless carry law against criticism from gun control advocateThe law that went into effect Sept. 1 allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training.
Abortion ban, permitless carry, elections bill: The week that solidified Texas' hard right turn after the 2020 election
Read full article: Abortion ban, permitless carry, elections bill: The week that solidified Texas' hard right turn after the 2020 electionTexas’ new near-total abortion ban, one of the most restrictive in the nation, punctuated a week that brought into stunning relief just how far the state’s political pendulum has swung to the right since the 2020 election.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick waffles over whether he still supports stronger gun background checks
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick waffles over whether he still supports stronger gun background checksIn September 2019, he said he was "willing to take an arrow" and go against the National Rifle Association by pushing for Texas to extend background checks to gun sales between strangers. On Thursday, he sat next to NRA leader Wayne LaPierre as an expansion of gun rights became law.
Texans can carry handguns without a license or training starting Sept. 1, after Gov. Greg Abbott signs permitless carry bill into law
Read full article: Texans can carry handguns without a license or training starting Sept. 1, after Gov. Greg Abbott signs permitless carry bill into lawAbbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Republicans who were initially noncommittal about the bill were under immense political pressure this session from conservatives and gun rights advocates, who have long lobbied the Texas Legislature for permitless carry.
After Austin shooting, advocates and Texas Democrats renew calls for action on gun violence
Read full article: After Austin shooting, advocates and Texas Democrats renew calls for action on gun violenceState Rep. Joe Moody, a Democrat from El Paso, said a special legislative session already planned for later this year should also address gun violence.
Texas Republican leaders promised action on gun safety after the El Paso shooting. Instead, they passed permitless carry.
Read full article: Texas Republican leaders promised action on gun safety after the El Paso shooting. Instead, they passed permitless carry.The Legislature passed a bill allowing Texans to carry handguns without a license or training — an expansion of gun rights so divisive Republican leaders in previous years refused to touch it.
Analysis: Regulating dangerous practices in the Texas Legislature
Read full article: Analysis: Regulating dangerous practices in the Texas LegislatureLawmakers consider some things so safe that regulations can be loosened, while other matters get a tighter regulatory scheme. Consider guns and voting.
Analysis: An end to a weird legislative session, and the beginning of an uncertain political cycle
Read full article: Analysis: An end to a weird legislative session, and the beginning of an uncertain political cycleA session transformed by COVID-19 protocols is giving way to a political cycle already disrupted by the pandemic’s effects on state government.