The bills aim to tackle firearm age restrictions, emergency protective orders, and funding for Uvalde victims.
San Antonio, TX – State Senator Roland Gutierrez has pre-filed 3 bills ahead of the 88th Legislative Session, all meant to address lingering state issues in the aftermath of the Uvalde massacre on May 24th, 2022. The landmark bills would establish high risk protective orders to keep guns out of the hands of potentially dangerous individuals, raise the age limit to buy any firearm from 18 to 21, and create a state fund to compensate Uvalde victims.
“We are doing what should have been done after Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe, El Paso, and Midland-Odessa. Making sure that young killers cannot get their hands on the weaponry that is used in most of these shootings. Making sure that people who are a risk to harm themselves and others do not have the opportunity to do so. Ensuring that the Uvalde victims are compensated for the harm that the State of Texas has caused them,” Gutierrez stated, “It’s time for the killing in Texas to stop. We cannot continue to live in fear of going to school, going to church, shopping for groceries, and just living our lives.”
A link to the bills and a brief description has been included below:
Senate Bill 144 – High Risk Protective Orders
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Establishes HRPOs as a civil service that empowers law enforcement to remove firearms from individuals that are at risk of harming themselves and/or others.
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Firearm removal is temporary and will be given back to the owner once the crisis period has passed.
Senate Bill 145 – Age Limit Increase
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Increases the age limit to purchase firearms from 18 to 21.
Senate Bill 146 – Uvalde Victims’ Compensation Fund
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$300 million fund established by the State of Texas to compensate Uvalde victims and families for DPS negligence.
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- Waives sovereign immunity for the State of Texas and qualified immunity for state and local law enforcement individuals & entities that were present at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022.
Gutierrez concluded, “We must take steps to address the issue of gun violence in our state. What happened on May 24, 2022 must never be allowed to happen again. The children and parents of Texas deserve better than having to live in fear of being gunned down.”
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