Texas is in the spotlight this week as the national discussion around guns and mass shootings has reignited.
The tragic shooting in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday has already reignited a discussion around what can be done to prevent future mass shootings in schools. Texas has one of the least restrictive gun laws in the country, and now it's at the center of the national debate on guns and mental health.
Gov. Abbott signed this “constitutional carry” bill into law last summer. Now over 20 states have a permitless carry in the U.S. The thing is, most Texas voters opposed the idea of letting people carry handguns in public without a license. A University of Texas and Texas Tribune Poll found that 59% of voters were against it.
“The ability of an 18-year-old to buy a long gun has been in place in the state of Texas for more than 60 years," Gov. Abbott said."Think about during the time over the course of that 60 years, we have not had episodes like this.”Texas State Rep. Jarvis Johnson is requesting Gov. Abbott call a special session on gun reform, including raising the age limit for purchasing long guns to 21.
Gun violence prevention advocates say data shows young people disproportionately commit gun homicides. While 18 to 20 year olds make up just 4% of the U.S. population, they account for 17% of known homicide offenders. When it comes to mental health care, Texas doesn't exactly have the best tools available for those who might need it. Currently, it ranks last out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for overall access to mental health care. That's according to the 2021 State of Mental Health in America report.
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