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Texas Lawmakers Struggle With Gun Control in Wake of Mass Shootings

Katherine Gypson

   CAPITOL HILL - Lawmakers return to work on Capitol Hill this week
   facing new calls for gun legislation in the wake of three high-profile
   mass shootings over the summer.

   U.S. President Donald Trump was set to meet with Senate Republicans
   late Tuesday to discuss possible legislative solutions that could
   include so-called "red flag" bills that would allow family members and
   law enforcement to go to court to keep guns out of the hands of
   high-risk individuals. Earlier Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee
   began drafting legislation that would ban high-capacity ammunition
   magazines.

   The renewed calls for Congress to address mass shootings has proved
   particularly sensitive for members of the Texas congressional
   delegation. Mass shootings in El Paso and Midland-Odessa where a total
   of 29 people were killed marked the third and fourth times Texas, one
   of the nation's largest states, has experienced major tragedies due to
   gun violence in the past two years.

   Many Texans are proud of their state's reputation for a strong gun
   culture. Texas is one of 45 "open carry" states nationwide that allow
   individuals to apply for a permit to carry a handgun in public. More
   than 1.2 million Texans have active conceal-carry permits, according to
   the Texas Department of Safety. There are no state laws regulating the
   possession of shotguns and rifles and no requirement for universal
   background checks, including gun show sales.

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