Gun violence should be sole focus of Texas Emergency Legislative Session

Following the El Paso and Odessa shootings, progressive lawmakers called for an emergency session to address the growing epidemic of gun violence.

Texas is in desperate need of gun reform solutions that keep our families and our loved ones safe. As a nation, we are having a conversation about safety - how we define safety, the laws, and protections needed for every single person to feel safe. We must have this conversation in order to act and create a country where we are no longer afraid to send our children to school or attend mass. 

In the last two years, Texas has had four mass shootings.

• August 31, 2019: West Texas - eight people died, 25 people were injured
• August 3, 2019: El Paso - 22 people died, 24 people were injured
• May 18, 2018: Santa Fe High School - eight students, two teachers died, 13 others were wounded
• November 5, 2017: Sutherland Springs Church - 26 church members died, 20 others were injured

Just days after the West Texas shooting, when communities and families across our state continued to grieving and urging for action to stop gun violence,  Republican Texas Rep. Matt Krause spoke foolishly out of turn. Krause insulted the loss of victims to gun violence by politicizing a statewide call for necessary gun reform policies to include anti-abortion legislation.

.@RepMattKrause says he agrees w/ Dems urging @GovAbbott to call a special #txlege session to address mass shootings — though adds "pro-life policies" should also be on agenda as part of debate on proposals that could "save lives throughout Texas." https://t.co/vC5aOc4G6h

— Cassi Pollock (@cassi_pollock) September 5, 2019

Our state cannot afford distractions. The level of gun violence inflicted upon Texans is unprecedented, and state legislators need to do everything in their power to make a change.

Krause’s suggestion to add anti-abortion legislation to the agenda is a distraction from much needed common-sense gun reform. Progressives have shown they are willing to take action to end gun violence, and now it’s time for Gov. Abbott and Texas Republicans to do the same.

Enough is enough. Together we can put an end to this senseless violence with an emergency session on gun reform.

Sign our petition and stand in support of common-sense gun reform!