Democrats will ensure that our children and our communities are not unwilling victims of gun violence.
Gun violence is at an all-time high in the United States, especially in the state of Texas, and our children and our communities are paying the price. It doesn’t have to be that way and sensible gun laws can help.
Governor Abbott, Ted Cruz and other Texas elected officials refuse to do anything to stop gun violence in our state. Even after the Justice Department’s investigation found “Cascading Failures” that law enforcement botched its response to the Uvalde school shooting, that evidence was not enough to budge them into action. Children, teachers, and all Texans deserve sensible gun reform, beginning with removing laughably easy access to high capacity weapons.
Facts about gun ownership in the state of Texas
- While federal law requires background checks for all gun sales by licensed gun dealers, it does not require background checks for guns sold by unlicensed sellers, like non-dealers who sell guns online or at gun shows.
Source: everytown.org - The “Charleston loophole” allows gun dealers to sell guns without a background check, in cases where the FBI fails to complete background checks within three days. Under current law, when those background checks are not completed within three days, applicants are automatically cleared and allowed to buy guns
Source: everytown.org - Creating a buffer between someone having a suicidal crisis and access to a gun can be the difference between life and death. Waiting period laws require gun buyers to wait until a certain period of time has passed before they are able to access a gun they have purchased.
Source: everytown.org - No permits or registration are required to own a firearm in the state of Texas.
Source: CashMyGuns) - Texas does not require universal background checks on all gun purchases, including private sales and purchases at gun shows.
Source: CashMyGuns) - Texas has had eight mass shootings in the past 13 years, while lawmakers have steadily loosened restrictions on carrying firearms.
Source: Texas Tribune
Common Sense Gun Laws that Texas Democrats Support
- Raise the legal age for the purchase of assault weapons
- Require universal background checks for all gun owners
- Require all guns need to be registered, with a waiting period to purchase assault-style weapons.
- All gun owners should be required to have a license and and to keep guns and ammunition in a locked safe place.
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