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up front Friday 23 august 2019

Texas governor expresses concern about private gun sales

From Front about the El Paso shoot- days later with a package
ing with lawmakers, police of measures that he said
By CLARICE SILBER and and representatives from would prevent mass shoot-
PAUL J. WEBER Google, Facebook and ings. But Abbott is taking a
Associated Press Twitter. slower approach.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Re- He also floated the idea The discussions will be
publican Texas Gov. Greg of “welfare checks” when closely followed by gun-
Abbott on Thursday raised worries are raised about rights supporters, including
concern about private fire- people with access to the National Rifle Associa-
arm sales but didn’t com- firearms. Authorities have tion, which earlier this year
mit to crack down on them said the mother of the sus- praised Abbott for expand-
or act on gun control is- pected El Paso gunman, ing gun rights in Texas.
sues following a meeting 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, Some are set to take effect
on ways to prevent mass had called police weeks Sept. 1 and were passed
shootings such as the El before the attack to ex- after more than two dozen Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, center with Speaker of the House
Paso attack that killed 22 press concern about her people were killed in a 2017 Dennis Bonnen, right, and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, left, makes
people. son buying an “AK” style Texas church shooting and opening statements during a round table discussion, Thursday,
While lawmakers are feel- rifle. a gunman killing 10 people Aug. 22, 2019, in Austin, Texas.
ing pressure to respond “Right now there is nothing at a high school near Hous- Associated Press
quickly to the Aug. 3 shoot- in law that would prevent ton last year. Facebook and Twitter left Texas chapter held a small
ing at a Walmart, Abbott one stranger from selling a Abbott offered no details the meeting before report- rally outside the Capitol
signaled that Texas would gun to a terrorist, and obvi- about how Texas might ers were let back into the before Abbott’s meeting
take a long and careful ously that’s a danger that scrutinize private gun sales room. They were invited by to protest the possibility of
look at gun laws and other needs to be looked into,” but expressed worries that Abbott after he called for a “red flag” laws that would
safety measures before its Abbott said. it could lead to some fire- crackdown on internet sites allow guns to be removed
Legislature next meets in The El Paso shooting hap- arms ending up in the used by violent extremists. from a person determined
2021. pened hours before an- wrong hands. Authorities Authorities believe Crusius to be a danger to them-
Scrutinizing private guns other gunman in Ohio have said Crusius legally posted a racist screed on- selves or others. The group
sales was among a list of killed nine people in an purchased the rifle used line shortly before carrying also spoke against any
ideas Abbott rattled off af- entertainment district. Ohio in the attack but have not out the attack. “social media monitoring”
ter emerging from a four- Gov. Mike DeWine, also said from where. Abbott said the companies that might result from the
hour, closed-door meeting a Republican, responded Executives from Google, Gun Owners of America’s discussions.q