AUSTIN, TX. — Gov. Greg Abbott did not suggest any major gun control measures Wednesday. He also told reporters the information he's received suggests there were no “red flags” with the suspected El Paso gunman.
- No red flags with suspected El Paso gunman
- Red flag laws would further restrict gun
- 17 states and DC had adopted red flag laws
There has not been a political appetite for so-called red flag laws in Texas, but President Trump is calling for them in the aftermath of El Paso and Dayton. After this past weekend's massacres, Congressional Republicans are coalescing around legislation to help law enforcement take guns from those who pose an imminent danger.
"This is something that I think we need to discuss, is there a way to identify these shooters early, before they commit their act of violence?" said Sen. John Cornyn, (R) Texas.
After the shooting at Santa Fe High School last year, Gov. Abbott pushed lawmakers to consider such legislation. Two bills were filed this past session but neither of them got a hearing.
It was the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary that moved Amy Edwards to become an activist for tighter gun restrictions.
"We know that there's not just one law that can stop all gun violence, but there's a lot more we can do," said Amy Edwards with Moms Demand Action.
She supports so-called red flag laws which would allow police officers or family members to petition courts to temporarily take guns away from people who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
"Somebody needs to be the applicant and swear to it under oath, under the pains of perjury," said one Travis County judge who preferred to remain anonymous.
The judge says from there, there'd likely be a screening process and a hearing.
"The evidence put before the court would need to convince the court that this person is either mentally ill, or this person has some dangerous propensities and has weapons," said the judge.
17 states and the District of Columbia have adopted red flag laws. The first state to enact their was Connecticut, after the tragedy that prompted Edwards to take up this cause.
"We always say that it's a marathon, not a sprint, we know that things take time," said Edwards.
She says she hopes Texas is next.
Several Democratic state lawmakers are urging the Governor to call a special session to address gun violence.