Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 6 august 2018
Texas Republicans squelch 'red flag' gun law prospects

By JIM VERTUNO — later clarified that he policy when you base it off
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas was only suggesting such of emotion."
schools have been add- laws be part of a broader Abbott's suggestion af-
ing metal detectors and conversation about school ter the Santa Fe attack
armed personnel in an ef- security and that he thinks that Texas should consider
fort to improve campus there's growing opposition keeping guns away from
security in response to the to the idea of gun restric- people who pose an im-
deadly May attack at a tions. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, mediate danger to others
Houston-area high school who presides over the Tex- surprised many because
that left eight students and as Senate, was even more neither he nor any of the
two teachers dead. forceful. "I have never sup- state's Republican leaders
Among the steps that Texas ported these policies, nor even suggested tightening
apparently won't be taking has the majority of the Tex- gun laws after last Novem-
anytime soon is tightening as Senate," he said minutes ber's massacre at a church
restrictions on gun access after the last in a series of in Sutherland Springs, near
for people deemed dan- In this May 18, 2018, file photo, law enforcement officers respond state Senate hearings on San Antonio.
gerous to themselves or to Santa Fe High School after an active shooter was reported on gun violence. Police said the teenage
others. campus in Santa Fe, Texas. The one-two punch by the suspect in the Santa Fe
In the aftermath of the May Associated Press state's top Republicans shooting took his father's
18 attack at Santa Fe High drew cheers from gun rights weapons and that there
School, Republican Gov. ers," which is the point of But faced with criticism advocates in a state that hadn't been any prior re-
Greg Abbott suggested so-called red flag laws like from gun enthusiasts in the has more than 1.2 million ports that he may have
that Texas should look for those passed by six states country's largest conserva- handgun license holders been mentally ill. But a red
ways to keep guns away since the February massa- tive state, Abbott — who and allows the open carry flag law might have helped
from people who pose "an cre at a high school in Park- gets top ratings from the in public of handguns and in the church shooting. The
immediate danger to oth- land, Florida. National Rifle Association long rifles. Air Force failed to properly
While they vary from state notify federal law enforce-
to state, red flag laws gen- ment agencies of the gun-
erally allow law enforce- man's previous felony do-
ment or family members mestic violence conviction
to ask a judge to order and the gunman had spent
the seizure or surrender of time at a mental health
guns from someone who hospital in New Mexico.
is deemed dangerous, of- Shortly after the Santa Fe
ten because of mental school shooting, Abbott
health concerns or threats held meetings with law en-
of violence. About a dozen forcement officials, edu-
states have red flag laws, cators, mental health ex-
including Republican-led perts, attack survivors and
Florida, which passed its victims' family members. A
law following the Parkland gun control group, Texas
school attack. Gun Sense, got a seat next
Texas can deny a handgun to the governor. On his oth-
license based on a person's er side was the Texas State
mental health history, but Rifle Association, the state
that restriction applies to arm of the NRA.
the license to carry a hand- Few expected major gun
gun, not buying one. The control proposals. But af-
state can seize weapons ter years of watching
from people determined to Texas lawmakers make it
be in a mental crisis in some easier and cheaper to get
circumstances. a handgun license and
Some gun rights activists carry weapons in public,
worry that expanding red gun control advocates felt
flag laws would allow the like finally they had a foot
government to seize some- in the door, only to get it
one's guns based on the crushed again.
suspicion of a threat or a Advocates for red flag laws
false report without that say they can help prevent
person having acted vio- violence before it starts, un-
lently. like armed teachers and
"Red flag laws are noth- school marshals, who can
ing more than ways to react after an attack has
take guns out of the hands already begun. Abbott's
of law-abiding persons 43-page school safety and
on nothing more than gun violence plan focused
mere suspicion," said C.J. on getting more armed
Grisham, leader of gun guards and personnel on
rights group Open Carry campus, improving gun
Texas, which has pushed to storage safety laws and
reduce gun restrictions for boosting mental health
years. "You never get good screenings. q