The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District trustees unanimously voted to send a request to Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session on gun violence.
The school board wants the governor and legislatures to pass a bill to change the legal age to buy firearms from 18 to 21.
This is the same community that lost 19 children and two teachers after a massacre at Robb Elementary School in the small town.
Notably, the gunman who killed the victims asked his family members to buy him a rifle, and all said no.
So he waited until his 18th birthday to buy the gun and magazines he used in the mass shooting.
Ever since the massacre, the families of the victims and the community have been dealing with misinformation from local authorities.
At a press conference the day after the shooting, Abbott said that without law enforcement stopping the shooter at Robb Elementary, “it could’ve been a lot worse.”
This statement would haunt Abbott after more reports and video evidence showed officers waited to confront the shooter for 77 minutes.
Despite hearing sporadic gunshots, over 400 officers from various agencies on the scene armed with military weaponry, and students calling 911 asking for help, authorities still decided to wait.
Earlier this month, the Texas House committee investigating Uvalde released a 77-page report detailing law enforcement’s response and inaction, a background on the shooter, and the school district’s security policies.
Nevertheless, according to a report by the Texas Tribune, the governor “has taken immediate action to address all aspects” of Uvalde, a spokesperson from his office said in response to the school board’s request.
The spokesperson also said the governor is expected to make an announcement in the coming days as the legislature deliberates solutions.
Kennedy is a recent graduate of the University of St.Thomas in Houston where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Celt Independent. Kennedy brings her experience of writing about social justice issues to the Texas Signal where she serves as our Political Reporter. She does everything from covering crime beats, Texas politics, and community activism. Kennedy is a passionate reporter, avid reader, coffee enthusiast, and loves to travel.
