Here's the full document from Gov. Abbott: https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/...n_05302018.pdf
The vast majority of it looks good to me. There's a big focus on mental health, school security, making sure the background check system has current and complete information, etc.... Nothing would prevent ALL crimes, obviously. But these types of things would help to prevent some. The big one that everybody is all worked up about is the red flag law stuff. Abbott recommended that the legislature consider the merits of a red flag law that wouldn't allow removing a person's firearms without FIRST going through due process. A quote....
"Mental Health Protective Order procedures would allow law enforcement, a family member, school employee, or a district attorney to file a petition seeking the removal of firearms from a person proven to be dangerous to himself or to others. The courts would then provide that person notice and a hearing, and only upon a finding that they pose a significant risk of danger to themselves or others would the court order law enforcement to take possession of firearms. These protective orders should be for a limited duration, provide for mental health treatment, and have a clear path to the full restoration of rights and return of firearms when the person is no longer a danger."
Again, it wouldn't prevent all bad things from happening. But it would prevent some. And it wouldn't allow anyone's guns to be taken away until after a court looked at all the facts and determined that there is reason to do so - unlike some states' laws and Trump's previous recommendation that would allow for immediate confiscation of firearms before due process. Abbott's recommendation is the right way to do it - AFTER due process.
The other stuff about firearms storage and reporting lost/stolen firearms is the least helpful stuff in the entire document, in my opinion. Laws like those won't do much at all, I don't think.
But overall, the recommendations look good to me. None of these laws and policies can replace what should be done by parents in raising their kids, of course. But there are far too many parents who don't have a clue how and/or refuse to be good parents and teach their kids right and wrong and how to be respectful and responsible citizens. Laws can't fix that. All we can do is our part with our families, and then do whatever we can to protect ourselves from the bad guys and nutjobs.
The vast majority of it looks good to me. There's a big focus on mental health, school security, making sure the background check system has current and complete information, etc.... Nothing would prevent ALL crimes, obviously. But these types of things would help to prevent some. The big one that everybody is all worked up about is the red flag law stuff. Abbott recommended that the legislature consider the merits of a red flag law that wouldn't allow removing a person's firearms without FIRST going through due process. A quote....
"Mental Health Protective Order procedures would allow law enforcement, a family member, school employee, or a district attorney to file a petition seeking the removal of firearms from a person proven to be dangerous to himself or to others. The courts would then provide that person notice and a hearing, and only upon a finding that they pose a significant risk of danger to themselves or others would the court order law enforcement to take possession of firearms. These protective orders should be for a limited duration, provide for mental health treatment, and have a clear path to the full restoration of rights and return of firearms when the person is no longer a danger."
Again, it wouldn't prevent all bad things from happening. But it would prevent some. And it wouldn't allow anyone's guns to be taken away until after a court looked at all the facts and determined that there is reason to do so - unlike some states' laws and Trump's previous recommendation that would allow for immediate confiscation of firearms before due process. Abbott's recommendation is the right way to do it - AFTER due process.
The other stuff about firearms storage and reporting lost/stolen firearms is the least helpful stuff in the entire document, in my opinion. Laws like those won't do much at all, I don't think.
But overall, the recommendations look good to me. None of these laws and policies can replace what should be done by parents in raising their kids, of course. But there are far too many parents who don't have a clue how and/or refuse to be good parents and teach their kids right and wrong and how to be respectful and responsible citizens. Laws can't fix that. All we can do is our part with our families, and then do whatever we can to protect ourselves from the bad guys and nutjobs.
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