Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said the state will focus on addressing “mental health issues” behind gun violence, but did not address calls for gun reform following another devastating mass shooting at a mall this weekend.
Eight people were killed and at least seven others injured at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday after a gunman opened fire at the crowded facility. Authorities identified the shooter as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, who was killed by a police officer at the scene.
It was the second mass shooting in Texas in recent weeks, after another gunman killed five of his neighbors in Cleveland, Texas, after they asked him to stop firing his gun at home.
The twin shootings have renewed calls for increased gun control both at the Texas state level and nationwide. But Abbott pointed out Sunday that the rise in gun violence has been associated with a “dramatic increase” in “anger and violence,” not access to firearms, even according to Fox News host Shannon Bream quoted a poll shows strong support for increased arms control measures.
“What Texas is doing in a big way, we’re working to address this anger and violence by going to its root cause, which is addressing the mental health issues behind it,” the governor said on Fox News Sunday, adding there have been There have been shootings “in states with easy gun laws as well as states with very strict gun laws.”
“People want a quick fix,” Abbott continues. “The long-term solution here is to address the mental health problem.”
Texas had them highest number of mass shootings of every state in the country so far this year.
The governor has been heavily criticized by Democrats, who have pointed to GOP-led efforts Gun purchases in Texas just got easier. State Senator Roland Gutierrez (D) said Sunday he was “disgusted” by the governor and Texas Lt. gov. Dan Patrick (R) for “doing NOTHING to protect us”.
President Joe Biden this weekend called on Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the wake of the mall shooting, and said he would sign such legislation “immediately” when it reached his desk.
“We need nothing less to keep our streets safe,” the President said.