[Story by Jacob Lehrer]

Texas is known to be pro-Second Amendment. Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans have always been champions of Second Amendment rights, keeping Texas a gun-owner safe haven. But the right to bear arms is a hotly contested issue in America and now more so in the state of Texas.

Back in May, Texans were struck with tragedy when a shooter entered a Uvalde elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers. Since then, Texans have responded to the tragedy and urged Governor Abbott to hold a special legislative session to discuss both gun laws and responses to mass shootings.

Abbott has attributed the Uvalde shooting to lack of mental health access in Texas, school security, and the poor police response. Abbott and Texas Republicans view that responsible gun owners should not have their guns restricted, but rather the state should deal with school security, shooter prevention, and mental health.

Texas Democrats, and Governor candidate Beto O’Rourke say that the tragedy of Uvalde, and other mass shootings, are because of easy access to guns. Beto O’Rourke says Uvalde and other tragic shootings in the state of Texas could have been prevented had his opponent passed tighter legislation on guns rather than making the Texas law more lenient. Gun control is one of Beto O’Rourke’s primary platforms.

Last year the Texas Legislature enacted seven laws that protected Texans Second Amendment rights:

• Senate Bill 19 (Schwertner/Capriglione) prohibits any governmental entity from contracting with any business that discriminates against firearm and ammunition businesses or organizations. 
• Senate Bill 20 (Campbell/Hefner) allows guests to store firearms in their hotel rooms. 
• Senate Bill 550 (Springer/Spiller) removes the shoulder or belt holster requirements, allowing Texans to carry firearms in whatever kind of holster they choose. 
• House Bill 957 (Oliverson/Springer) repeals the criminal offense of possessing, manufacturing, transporting, or repairing a firearm silencer. It also ensures that any firearm suppressor manufactured in Texas, and that remains in Texas, will not be subject to federal law or federal regulation. 
• House Bill 1500 (Hefner/Creighton) prevents any government entity from prohibiting the sale or transportation of firearms or ammunition during a declared disaster or emergency. 
• House Bill 1927 (Schaefer/Schwertner) authorizes Constitutional Carry in Texas, meaning law-abiding Texans can legally carry a handgun without a license to carry. 
• House Bill 2622 (Holland/Hall) makes Texas a Second Amendment Sanctuary State by protecting Texans from new federal gun control regulations.

The most controversial, House Bill 1927, was met with criticism both from gun control advocates and responsible gun owners. The bill essentially allowed people of age to purchase guns without a license, which meant without training.

Additionally, a few weeks ago a federal judge in Texas ruled that 18 year olds are also constitutionally protected to carry handguns, striking down the law that held the age in Texas to carry a handgun at 21. The decision came as 18 year olds were viewed as members of “the militia” in American history, and are viewed as “the people” discussed in the Constitution.

Although these have been wins for the Second Amendment, some Texans have been skeptical on the leniency to own a gun in Texas, and if it has been beneficial to the state. Mass shootings are reported more as the issue of gun control has become a major voting issue this November.

Texas Republicans will likely defend their stance on gun access, supporting responsible gun ownership, and stating the Second Amendment allows citizens protection against active shooters. Furthermore, Republicans will likely respond to mass shootings by pointing out the need for school security and the issue of mental health.

“Ever since Texas has been a state, an 18-year-old has had the ability to buy a long gun, a rifle,” stated Governor Abbott according to the Texas Tribune. “Since that time, it seems like it’s only been in the past decade or two that we’ve had school shootings. For a century and a half, 18-year-olds could buy rifles and we didn’t have school shootings. But we do…Maybe we’re focusing our attention on the wrong thing,” said Abbott.

Texas Democrats see the gun debate as a central platform they can run under, aside from abortion. They hope they can move voters to push for some gun restrictions, and point out the leniency done by Texas Republicans.

Beto O’Rourke has previously touted that he wants to take away guns during his run for the 2020 Democratic Primary presidential race. But this year O’Rourke has taken a more moderate approach with Texas voters, outlining “expanded background checks, raising the age to 21 from 18 to buy an AR-15-style rifle and a “red flag” law to take firearms from those deemed a risk,” says the New York Times.

The gun debate continues on in the battleground of state politics in Texas. It will be one of several major issues in Texas that voters will consider in this election. On September 30, Governor Greg Abbott and Governor candidate Beto O’Rourke will have one debate at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, TX, hosted by Nexstar Media Group.

[Story by Jacob Lehrer]