On Monday, the Uvalde Consolidated Independence School District voted to request that the governor be formally appointed. Greg Abbott (R), called a special session in the state legislature to adopt a bill that would lower the age limit for purchasing a gun in Texas.
The resolution is non-binding for the governor. comes two months after the horrific mass shooting in Robb Elementary SchoolIt is located in the Uvalde district school district. The massacre resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers. The gunman, who had just turned 18 years oldThe purchaser had purchased two rifles, along with hundreds of rounds ammunition, days before.
The school board of trustees unanimously passed the resolution asking Abbott and the legislature for an increase in the age limit to 21.
“There’s no reason for an 18-year-old to have something like that,” Uvalde Schools Superintendent Hal Harrell said at the meeting.
According to the state constitutionOnly the governor can call a special session to review a measure or list, if the legislature is not in regular sessions. A special session may last no more than 30 days.
Zach Despart is a political reporter The Texas Tribune, tweeted earlier this weekMany Austin legislators may actually support raising age limits. But it’s a “long way till they convene in January,” Despart added, noting that the next time the legislature is scheduled to meet is halfway through the upcoming school year.
In response to news of the request from the district, the governor’s office told The Texas Tribune that “all options remain on the table” and that “more announcements” regarding action to address gun violence would be coming. But the governor appeared noncommittal to the idea of raising the age limit, and didn’t indicate if he’d call a special session to consider the proposal.
Abbott has been under pressure from his fellow state legislators to do something about guns in the state. His main gubernatorial opponent in this year’s midterm elections, former congressman Beto O’Rourke, has confronted Abbott directly about his inaction on gun reformPolling shows that The gap between the two candidates could be closingThis is partly due to gun violence.
Surveys conducted in Texas show that Texans support rapid action on gun policies and that they support the Uvalde school district’s proposed measure. According to a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll published earlier this monthTexans are split on the issue. 70% support raising the age of purchase for firearms in Texas, while 25% oppose it.
According to the poll, 52 per cent of Texans believe the state should have stricter gun regulations. Only 28 percent think the laws should remain the same as they are, and 14 percent believe they should be more strict.
