On Tuesday March 22, Texas Impact brought 4 members of its Ending Gun Violence Issue team to attend the House Select Committee for Community Safety’s first reading of bills. The committee read through 14 bills. Texas Impact brought its members, several of whom are faith leaders, in order to bear witness as members of the faith community and in order to testify on several of the bills.
The committee hearing process can be long to say the least, so we are proud of the testimony our members gave standing up for common sense legislation that keeps our state safe. The committee is made up of 13 representatives, several of whom represent districts affected by mass shootings. We expect the majority of bills related to gun regulation to pass through this committee. The bills that were brought forward covered several facets related to gun control including: domestic violence, who can purchase firearms or related equipment, databases and information about gun owners, and where firearms are permitted.
Unsurprisingly, due to the polarization and somberness of this issue public testimony was intense and filled with a number of different interest groups. Various gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), attended and opposed almost all legislation that didn’t expand gun ownership. Allies of Texas Impact also showed up, including Nicole Golden from TX Gun Sense, Lisa Ross from Lock Arms for Life, and Christina Delgado from Community Justice Action Fund, all of whom are members of the Texas Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, led by TX Gun Sense. There were also a number of concerned citizens on both sides.
Faith leaders and members of the Texas Impact Ending Gun Violence Issue Team, Samuel Brannon, Rob Mueller, and Stephen Sanders, all attended and gave testimony. Rob Mueller, speaking from his experience working in a marginalized community at Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church, testified against House Bill (HB) 636, which would expand the rights of election judges to carry firearms at polling locations to early voting days. Rev. Mueller described how firearms would intimidate his community, which already has a hard time voting and would suppress their ability to engage in our democratic process.
Rev. Stephen Sanders testified in favor of bills HB 2076, HB 544, and HB 2780, which focused on preventing domestic abusers from obtaining firearms and creating better tracking of juveniles with mental health records. Rev. Sanders spoke on his experience working with both domestic survivors and with kids who have struggled with mental health. The reverend emphasized the need to protect these vulnerable communities with common sense legislation.
Lasty, Pastor Samuel Brannon testified in favor of bills HB 2454, HB 2242 and HB 902, which would close a loophole by prohibiting a person knowingly purchasing for or providing a gun to a person prohibited from possessing one, invest in an public messaging campaign for safe gun storage, and prevent persons prohibited from possessing firearms from purchasing gun magazines respectively. Pastor Brannon is a veteran from the Navy and was in charge of firearm training and safety.
We are so proud of our Texas Impact members on the Ending Gun Violence Issue Team, who have continued to step up and advocate for reasonable gun reform and safe practices. Despite the contention around this issue, we are encouraged to keep working for common ground and find hope that all parties at the hearing, including gun rights advocates, supported HB 2454 by Rep. Guillen. However, things at the capital are just getting started and we are preparing for the long road ahead. Addressing gun violence is a tough and complicated issue that will require long term work in the state legislature and investment in communities. We are thankful for our team members who are putting in the work and encourage more to join our cause.