Texas School Shooting: Gov. Greg Abbott Calls For Action

SANTA FE, TX — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a call for action hours after a gunman killed 10 people and injured 10 others inside Santa Fe High School Friday morning.

“It’s impossible to describe the magnitude of the evil of someone who would attack innocent children in a school,” Abbott, a Republican, said during a press conference Friday in Santa Fe. “Nothing can prepare a parent for the loss of a child.”

Flanked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Sen. Ted Cruz, and other state officials, Abbott called for a frank roundtable meeting with stakeholders that include parents, victims from the Sutherland Springs church shooting, lawmakers and educators to come up with “swift solutions to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again.”

“We need to do more than just pray for the victims and their families,” Abbott said. “It’s time, in Texas, that we take action to step up and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again…”

The discussions would focus on collaborating on ideas for safer communities and schools, while simultaneously protecting Second Amendment rights.

Abbott vowed that the roundtable discussions to find solutions would begin immediately, with the assembling of stakeholders commencing in the coming days.

During Friday's press conference, Abbott mentioned a threat assessment program at the Lubbock school district as a possible solution, calling it "very successful."

But Nancy Sharp, executive director of communications and community relations at Lubbock ISD, said the district is no longer part of the program, according to lubbockonline.com. The district participated in a research pilot project from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

The district is considering several threat assessment programs in the future, including the Texas Tech program, Sharp said. The screening program evaluates students who are judged to be "imminently dangerous to themselves or others."

“There have been too damn many of these,” Cruz, also a Republican, said. “Texas has seen too many of these...another evil criminal murdering innocent people.”

Cruz shared his experience of a return trip to Sutherland Springs — the site of a horrific church shooting that claimed 27 lives — and described the hope people had as they continue to slowly heal from the violence many experienced first-hand.

Cruz added that while millions are offering prayer and comfort to Santa Fe, a public policy solution is needed to stop tragedies like this one.

Patrick, also a Republican, said the discussions on school safety should include making school campuses harder targets. He added that some campuses have too many entrances and exits.

“We may have to look at the design of our schools moving forward,” Patrick said. “We’re gonna have to be creative.”

Patrick also urged gun owners to exercise responsible gun safety by locking up their weapons to keep them out of the hands of children, or those who could do harm to others.

“This is one big step that we can take,” he said.

State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, a Democrat and leader on gun safety in the state House of Representatives who has two children in local public schools, agreed that more action is needed from state leaders.

“The government is responsible for protecting its citizens, and both Congress and the Texas Legislature have failed to take meaningful steps to reduce gun violence and save lives despite countless heartbreaking tragedies,” Rodriguez said in a statement Friday. “Students shouldn’t have to overcome the fear of death just to receive an education. If your elected officials aren’t moved to action by today’s school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, vote them out and replace them with leaders who are willing to listen, learn and work across the aisle to pass common-sense gun safety legislation.”

Image: SANTA FE, TX - MAY 18: Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks to family and friends at a vigil held at the First Bank in Santa Fe for the victims of a shooting incident at Santa Fe High School where a shooter killed at least 10 students on May 18, 2018, in Santa Fe, Texas. At least 10 people were killed when a gunman opened fire at Santa Fe High school. Police arrested a student suspect and detained a second person. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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