How the Texas House Bill 1927 could negatively impact the push for gun reform..
Research shows that the rate of firearm deaths have increased approximately 42% since the early 1990s. The fight for gun control has been a back and forth battle for well over 10 years and it seems as if there is no push in the political office to take accountability and pass gun-control laws. Terrorist shooting at schools, jobs, heavily crowded areas, etc. are consistently being broadcasted in the media yet there is no immediate response from the government to take control of the issues that plague our country every single day.
With Biden/Harris taking office, we can only hope and consistently push the narrative to end our gun violence epidemic. A full description on the President’s plans to end gun violence can be found on the following website: https://joebiden.com/gunsafety/. Despite his efforts, there are other challenges that will continue to delay the push for this plan. State’s having the ability to make their own laws (especially dealing with guns) is an uphill battle for people who are against gun laws and want immediate change.
If you are a Texas resident like myself, you may have heard of the Senate approving the House Bill 1927 which allows residents to carry a handgun without a license. Supporters of this new legislature, including gun rights groups and conservative Republicans, argue that the new law will allow Texans to exercise rights guaranteed under the Second Amendment. One representative argued that people will feel well-equipped to protect their family in any given situation. The House Bill 1927 next turns to the Texas House to consider changes made during the hours long debate. One of those changes would create stiffer penalties for illegal weapons by felons and those convicted by family violence offenses. Another change removed House language that bans law officers from questioning somebody based solely on their possession of a handgun.
In my honest opinion, this is rather alarming and sad to think of the dangers that could transpire if this law is passed. The HB 1927 is honestly a political win for the Republicans and the white supremacists groups. The detail embodied in the bill stating that there will be “stiffer penalties for illegal weapons by felons and those convicted by family violence offenses” does not fully eliminate the nature of violence in our community. The terrorist that continue to plague our community are less likely to be felons and may not even have anything on their records to identify the danger that they could impose on the public. Giving young people or people who are battling mental health issues the green light to buy weapons will only lead to more violence. The HB 1927 is a huge challenge from getting better gun-control laws and it shows that the political nature of this topic is heavily flawed.
My only hope is to educate my readers on this issue and push the importance of voting to make sure that we have the right officials that will bring the change that we need for the future. Let’s continue to be aggressive with our voice and our vote!
