Texas Moms Demand Action Statement in Response to Waco Shooting

AUSTIN, Texas – In response to a shooting in Waco, Texas last night among members of several rival motorcycle gangs in a busy shopping plaza that left at least nine bikers dead and 18 others injured in a parking lot packed with afternoon shoppers, the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America released the statement below.

Also today, House Bill 910, a bill that would allow for the open carry of handguns in Texas, will be heard in the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee. The Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action along with gun owners, law enforcement officers and other advocates are also in Austin today to testify in opposition to this dangerous legislation.

Statement From Angela Turner Volunteer with the Texas Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

“We are thankful to the law enforcement and community leaders who responded quickly to the senseless gun violence in Waco this weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Waco community today and while the details of this event are still unfolding, it seems clear that more guns in more places with fewer safeguards is not a winning strategy for public safety.

Today our lawmakers on the Senate State Affairs Committee are getting ready to green light the open carry of handguns in Texas. This legislation is opposed by over two-thirds of Texans and 75 percent of Texas police chiefs. Open carry makes everyday confrontations potentially more dangerous and poses an unnecessary challenge on our law enforcement to determine in the heat of the event who is a good guy and who is a dangerous criminal.

Perhaps Sunday’s violence will serve as the necessary wake up call to our legislators that they should stop taking marching orders from the gun lobby and listen to their constituents and Texas law enforcement who understand that the Second Amendment goes hand in hand with commonsense public safety laws.

There is no single solution to ending gun violence but we do know that background checks on all gun sales saves lives and keep guns out of the wrong hands – and there is no research to show that allowing for the open carry of hand guns or forcing guns on college campuses makes us safer.”