Ardent “gun rights” supporter Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott tried desperately Saturday to focus on shooters’ “mental health” issues instead of issues such as easy access to assault rifles at a press conference following the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart that left at least 20 people dead.
Abbott once boasted he was “embarrassed” that Texas was second to California in gun sales. He insisted Saturday that the state legislature passed “bill after bill after bill” to protect students from school shootings after eight teenagers and two teachers were fatally shot last year at Santa Fe High School in Texas. One of the bills Abbott signed into law involved arming more teachers. None of the bills involved increased gun control.
Abbott acknowledged that “we did not, as far as I know, evaluate for and plan for an incident like this,” referring to the Walmart shooting. (Watch his comments in the video above beginning at 21:36.)
“That said, I can tell you that perhaps the most profound and agreed-upon issue that came out of” legislative hearings on the school shootings was the “need for the state and for society to do a better job of dealing with challenging mental health-based issues,” Abbott added. “We know that’s a component … probably … to any type of shooting that takes place.” Abbott said funding has been provided “for the state to better address” mental health issues.
Police have identified the gunman at Walmart as 21-year-old Patrick Crucius, but have said nothing about his mental health. Police and the FBI are investigating a hate-fueled “manifesto” that may be linked to Crucius, authorities revealed at the press conference.
Abbott also said Saturday that “Texas grieves” — and asked for prayers.
Abbott is a favorite of the National Rifle Association, which recently hailed ten pro-gun laws the governor has signed this year. “Governor Greg Abbott has now signed all of the NRA-supported legislation which the Texas Legislature sent him during the 2019 session,” an NRA web site boasted.
In June Abbott vetoed a bill by his legislature making it a state crime to bring guns into secure areas of airports.
His 2015 tweet encouraging Texans to “pick up the pace” by buying more guns was a particular target of several barbs Saturday.