Texas House members push to make “raising the age” gun bill a priority.

Texas lawmakers are hoping to pass legislation that would raise the age to purchase a semi-automatic firearm from 18 to 21. The bill, HB 2744, has been dubbed the “raising the age” gun bill and has gained support from 28 Texas House members.

On Tuesday afternoon, Rep. Vikki Goodwin tweeted that the 28 members sent a signed letter requesting the transfer of HB 2744 from the Calendar Committee to the House floor for debate and a vote. Goodwin, a supporter of the bill, stated that “mass shootings and gun violence have become too prevalent in Texas” and urged the #Txlege to make this issue a priority.

The bill’s passage through the House Select Committee on Community Safety on Monday by an 8 to 5 vote has spurred confidence that it will pass the House and full Senate before becoming law. However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has previously stated that he does not support raising the age for buying guns.

The issue of guns has been further highlighted by a recent mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets mall, where a gunman killed eight people, including children. The Texas Department of Public Safety has reported that the shooter took eight handguns with him to the mall, and all of them were legally purchased. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Despite Governor Abbott’s stance on raising the age for buying guns, the support for the “raising the age” gun bill evidences a growing trend towards stronger gun control measures in Texas. The bill’s success hinges on further support from lawmakers and the public, who are increasingly calling for measures to combat gun violence in the state.

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